Legal Definitions - occupational crime

Occupational crime refers to illegal activities committed by an individual during the course of their legitimate employment, primarily for personal gain. These crimes involve abusing one's professional position, trust, or access to resources within a workplace setting. Unlike corporate crime, which benefits the organization itself, occupational crime typically benefits the individual perpetrator.

Here are some examples to illustrate occupational crime:

• Example 1: Healthcare Fraud

  A dentist regularly bills insurance companies for expensive root canal procedures when, in fact, they only performed less costly fillings or cleanings on patients. The dentist then pockets the difference between the higher insurance payout and the actual cost of the service provided.

  This is an occupational crime because the dentist, while performing their legitimate job duties, abuses their professional position and access to patient records and billing systems to commit fraud for personal financial benefit.

• Example 2: Retail Embezzlement

  A store manager at a clothing boutique, responsible for handling daily cash receipts, routinely skims a small amount of cash from the register at the end of their shift. To cover their tracks, they manipulate the daily sales reports to show slightly lower revenue than was actually collected.

  This illustrates occupational crime because the manager is using their position of trust and access to company funds and records to steal money directly from their employer for their own personal enrichment.

• Example 3: Expense Account Abuse

  An executive assistant at a marketing firm uses the company credit card, intended for office supplies and business travel, to purchase personal electronics and luxury items. They then submit falsified expense reports, claiming these purchases were for client gifts or essential office equipment.

  This is an occupational crime as the assistant is misusing company assets and their authority to approve expenses, all while on the job, to acquire personal goods at the company's expense.