A rise in workers who lie, cheat, steal and intimidate customers is sending a union's legal bills spiralling.

The Bermuda Public Servants Association General Secretary Ed Ball said bosses were getting tougher on bad employees to stop them dragging down their businesses.

In the April edition of the BPSA newsletter -- "Feedback'', Mr. Ball said: "Worker accusations are forcing the Union to seek advice at an alarming rate in order to save worker's jobs.

"Some employees have resorted to these behaviour patterns which has placed them in crisis for dismissal.'' He said workers were: Intimidating customers Using company letter heads for personal business Being investigated and interrogated from thefts of money and produce Cheating on entrance tests Lying, cheating and trying to use colleagues to further their own agenda Abusing drugs and alcohol.

Mr. Ball said: "Employers are becoming increasingly aware of their corporate image and their company's good will.

"Human resources managers are becoming less tolerant of an employee's explanation as to why they confronted customer.

"Therefore the Union's request for an employee to be referred to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is not always an option.'' Employment Assistance Programme EAP Executive Director Martha Pitman said around 20 percent of her referrals were from employers unhappy with their employee's performance.

She said: "Employers need to be clear about what's acceptable and not acceptable on the job.'' But she said some bad behaviour was caused by underlying problems which could be addressed through EAP.

She said: "All sorts of issues can affect behaviour. Whether emotional problems, depression, substance abuse, family problems.

See also Workers, Page 2 Poor worker attitudes taxing Union's legal fund "But if people don't admit the problems or don't want help or just have an attitude they don't want to change then we can't help them if they don't want to be helped.'' Employers Council Executive Director Malcolm Dixon said he wasn't able to say if problems with employees had risen.

But he said: "I know where Mr. Ball's coming from. I certainly think there's a need for very high standards to be established right through Bermuda.

"Where you have a service-based economy there is a need for a very high standard of service.'' "It's becoming a more and more competitive environment globally and employers demand high standards.'' Mr. Ball said employers and workers needed to create a workplace that was responsive to workers' needs.