Why You Should Encourage Employees to Display Family Photos at Work

Organizations lose an estimated 5% of revenue annually as a result of employee fraud, the majority of which are small-scale transgressions, such as padded expense reports, inventory theft, or misappropriating petty cash. In a series of studies, researchers found that employees with photos of loved ones on their desks were much less likely to engage in this kind of unethical behavior. Photos of loved ones appear to offset the economic calculus that tends to underlie people’s thoughts much of the time while they are at work. Workplaces that develop an inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable personalizing their workplaces, may find an unexpected benefit.