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Friday’s dilemma: should I dob on my boss?

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

04 Feb 05:50am

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Filed under: Friday Dilemma, Moral Dilemma, Work

96 comments

Straight from the horse's mouth. Illustration by Bill Leak.

Anonymous says:

“I changed jobs a few months ago, and at my leaving drinks a colleague told me about a senior manager who was basically stealing from the company. He had a lot of evidence, but made me promise not to tell anyone about it. They both still work there. This is a large global company who has axed a heap of people over recent years due to budget cuts. Should I report his actions to the CEO? Or should I just stay out of it since I no longer work there?”

Most commented

429Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
333Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
265Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

96 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Jugg says:

      11:05am | 04/02/11

      Report it without doubt.  Why would you condone a thief’s actions?  If someone were taking your property wouldn’t you want to know?

      Reply

    • Gavin says:

      01:20pm | 04/02/11

      Australia has become such a dobbing nation. You have forgotten to mind your own business?

    • mary says:

      02:31pm | 04/02/11

      Report. Stealing is everyones business.

    • Geoff - Brisbane says:

      02:53pm | 04/02/11

      @ Gavin - Australia also believes in a “fair go” and a “fair days work for a fair days pay”. Robbing the company is alot more than a fair days pay. And hes not giving the company a fair go.

    • Jugg says:

      02:51pm | 05/02/11

      Gavin,

      Can I steal your stuff?

    • Drunk Guy says:

      04:28pm | 05/02/11

      What the, . . by reporting it you are putting your mate in an untenable position where he will be required to make the case and show the evidence he has,. . . .how’s that going to work out for all the sanctimonious dobbers who are urging you to report when the company turns in on itself to prevent scandal and your mate gets ousted,. . .  Your mate gave you in confidence information, . . have some respect and keep it in confidence until they decide it’s the time to report it, then support them.

    • Elphaba says:

      11:08am | 04/02/11

      It depends on a lot of things.  Do you still work in the same industry, and does the thief have a lot of clout within that industry (ie, will they talk?)  What’s your relationship like with the CEO?  What’s the CEO’s relationship like with the thief?

      If the odds are stacked in your favour (ie, you’ll come out of this looking good), and it’s bothering you, then say something.  If not, be thankful you dodged a bullet and enjoy your new job.  Ratting out co-workers, even former co-workers, is a dicey business.  It end badly a lot of the time.

      Reply

    • alessio says:

      11:24am | 04/02/11

      maybe the CEO buys from the thief…

    • anonymous says:

      11:33am | 04/02/11

      Hi there - yes I am still in the same industry and the thief is very senior in the industry so I certainly wouldn’t want to get him offside. 

      The CEO is based offshore so I don’t really know them. I had a good relationship with the thief and with local management but feel it’s too small an industry to rat out anyone publicly.

    • Elphaba says:

      12:29pm | 04/02/11

      @anonymous, thanks for the response.

      Being the absorber of advertising that I am, I spotted a billboard at the station the other day, about a company you can anoymously speak to if the business you work at is using pirated software.

      Is it possible that there is an organisation that would allow you to lodge a complaint without revealing your identity?  Or will the thief work it out that it was you?

    • Maggie says:

      12:07pm | 06/02/11

      @anonymous: send a letter to the board or have a statement read at the AGM. It can be anonymous - if the board then knows about it and does nothing, you can go to the Australian Federal Police.
      The other option is to go to the respective union or straight to the police or AFP. If it’s a company you can buy shares in, you are obliged to report it. Stealing is a crime. Simple as that.

    • alessio says:

      11:09am | 04/02/11

      it depends on what is the drive in making the report: love for your old work place or hate for your ex-collegue? In the second case I would just leave it…

      Reply

    • PL says:

      11:57am | 04/02/11

      Nah nah nah Alessio… some of the best things are done out of spite!

      Drop it as a bomb as you leave, it’ll at least make things interesting around the workplace for those mates you’ve left.

      And create a bit of a legend about yourself in the process.

    • Danny B says:

      11:09am | 04/02/11

      Mate,

      You know a crime is being committed.  If it was murder, would you stand by and let him get away with it?  If he’s broken the law and is stealing from the company, and there’s evidence to prove it, what are you waiting for?

      I’d also ask why your colleague wants to keep this quiet.

      Reply

    • VVS says:

      11:59am | 04/02/11

      He might just be stealing pens? To the gallows!!!!!

      More info is definitely needed to give a proper response to this.

    • Michael says:

      01:23pm | 04/02/11

      Danny B, were you the schoolyard dibber-dobber who used to spend lunchtimes going around to the teachers on duty to inform them that Billy said a swear word?

      And equating murder to theft? Really?

    • anonymous says:

      01:49pm | 04/02/11

      It’s more than just pens and is in the order of $300k through various means such as setting up paper-based companies and then issuing invoices for services not performed; putting personal expenses through business accounts; etc.

      I think my colleague wants to keep this quiet because they are good friends with the guy. Perhaps telling me was a cry for help?

    • John Smythe says:

      11:10am | 04/02/11

      Not your concern. Move on and leave it be.

      Reply

    • Likes Joining Dots says:

      12:40pm | 04/02/11

      Agreed

      Time to move on. After leaving a job I can’t see much point in ‘dobbing’ on the boss or that guy in the corner on facebook all day or the lady who takes handfuls of tea bags and sugar home each day.

      It’s up to the co-worker still there who has the evidence, not you.

    • Michael says:

      01:34pm | 04/02/11

      Finally, some sanity here. Frankly, when starting a new job and a new chapter in my life, most people would lay most of their concerns in that area rather than worry about what everyone else is doing.

    • Anon. says:

      11:10am | 04/02/11

      I think theft is a greater crime than breaking a promise.

      Let them know anonymously.

      The motives of your friend telling you should also be looked at.

      Why mention such a thing only to have the person promise secrecy?

      Talk to your friend about it also.

      Reply

    • Gladys says:

      11:32am | 04/02/11

      This is a good point. Maybe your co-worker is just being malicious.

    • Michael says:

      01:36pm | 04/02/11

      It’s not their crime to worry about! And what’s this BS about anonymity? If you’re going to be a snivelly little tattle-tale, don’t be gutless about it.

    • anonymous says:

      01:58pm | 04/02/11

      The co-worker is quite close with the boss so I don’t think he’s being malicious. Perhaps his motive (after a drink or two) was that he knows something needs to be said, but doesn’t want to be the one to say it. Swearing me to secrecy is perhaps a way of simply easing his conscience?

    • AdamC says:

      02:07pm | 04/02/11

      Michael, are in primary school?

    • Michael says:

      02:28pm | 04/02/11

      AdamC, you are right, we are not in primary school.Days of tattling for the sake of tattling are long gone (for most of us), particularly sneaky and gutless tattling. If this person wants to be a moral crusader, they should at least have the gonadic fortitude to do the heroic thing and be upfront.

    • James1 says:

      03:04pm | 04/02/11

      If dobbing is gutless and snivelly, what words would you use to describe theft?

    • Carly says:

      06:41pm | 04/02/11

      @ Michael

      What planet are you on? There’s a distinct difference between being a coward and being smart, which you don’t seem to have grasped. You’d have to be stupid to put yourself in a risky position.

      It’s not like anonymous actually GAINS anything personally, it’s this person being a good community member and looking out for those who might get laid off because some jerk can’t be bothered working for his money.

      If this person is stealing in large quantities they could be affecting whole families, lives ruined because they’re greedy enough to believe they deserve it.
      School yard dobbing is for “he stole my pencil”.
      Being a responsible citizen means letting superiors know when some jerk is ruining others’ lives.

      Anonymous, I do agree you need more information and you do need to be sure or you could set yourself up and get in all kinds of trouble. If you can do it anonymously and you have proof, go for it, stuff jerks like him!

    • stephen says:

      11:12am | 04/02/11

      Encourage the person who told you to report it themselves. You no longer work there & also do not have the evidence yourself.  If the company has good corporate governance they will have an appropriate person to report this to an handle it correctly.

      Reply

    • Elisabeth says:

      12:13pm | 04/02/11

      I think this is an excellent point. You don’t actually have the evidence, the other person does. Do everything you can to encourage that person to do something. Other than that, it’s simply just rumour. You haven’t seen the evidence yourself.

    • Reg says:

      12:25pm | 04/02/11

      If you don’t have any solid evidence, you have nothing to report other than gossip. Even an ICAC would not act on your evidence. Besides that, don’t depend on a company employee not to disclose the source of the complaint to his or her superiors.

    • notSue says:

      12:41pm | 04/02/11

      An anonymous tip to the authorities is the only way to go here, in case a) your friend is wrong or malicious b) either of your identities are revealed.  Whistle-blowers are not thanked or treated well in this country, laws or no laws. Your name would be mud in the industry, believe me.

    • Gladys says:

      11:14am | 04/02/11

      Is your boss a reference? I’d stop using him/her.

      But talk to the boss and say you’re aware of rumours and either to come clean themselves or risk being caught.

      As you don’t have the proof, it’s hearsay.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      11:23am | 04/02/11

      Hmmm, lets rephrase that- “if you employee was caught stealing…”
      The Punch members of the LNP /  Nicholls society would be baying for blood, cries of union protection etc
      But when a “boss ” is involved its a different story.
      More , much more hypocracy from the self appointed moral guardians of the Right.

      Reply

    • Readers Diagest says:

      12:20pm | 04/02/11

      @Chang Have you read what your wrote, ignorant fascist!

    • Kika says:

      02:11pm | 04/02/11

      the word is hypocrisy - not hypocracy @ TCHong

    • notsurprised says:

      11:26am | 04/02/11

      If you don’t work there anymore he’s no longer your boss. Sometimes you have to be the one to deliver karma.

      Reply

    • Lynda says:

      11:26am | 04/02/11

      I believe that you should never promise anything until you have heard the story first.  It’s unfair to put that much pressure on anyone.  But you have promised not to tell and as such you should uphold that promise.  An exception would be if someone’s life was endangered or if it was a matter of mandatory legal reporting such as child abuse.  Your ex colleague would suffer serious consequences if you report the senior managers illegal activities.  If you don’t have the proof then it’s not up to you.  If your ex colleague isn’t prepared to report to the CEO then I suppose they will never know.

      Reply

    • Faery says:

      11:34am | 04/02/11

      Let the CFO know anonymously.

      Go to an internet cafe, set up a random email account and email the CFO directly, you must know their email as you worked there.  Tell the CFO your suspicions, and if possible give him something for those suspicions to be founded on.  Also state that you want to remain anonymous and don’t want to be involved in any way which is why you have chosen to report the matter this way.  If the CFO is in any way worth their salary they will do some kind of investigation.  This may also give you friend the chance to speak up or clear the accused name.

      Agree with Gladys too, if this manager is a referee get him off your resume, you don’t want to have anything to do with him.

      Reply

    • Gavin says:

      01:53pm | 04/02/11

      So snitch like a snake in the grass? How noble…

    • anonymous says:

      02:01pm | 04/02/11

      Not a bad idea Faery, I do have some info I could pass on (for example, company names and specific business dealings/contracts he could investigate) and I guess it’s up to the CFO from there.

    • Somedood says:

      05:52am | 05/02/11

      Faery’s idea is safest.

      Write an anonymous email telling where to look for the fraud and how it is being committed.  I would avoid accusing anyone outright, just say something suspicious is happening. You need to let the recipient know you have some legitimate knowledge of the business, rather than make vague accusations.

      This way if it does turn out to be false, or something else, no-one has been affected.

      I might suggest sending it to several people/departments.

      You can put yourself out of a career by trying to do the right thing.

      Gavin and his mates can go hang out behind the bike shed, looking for those snitching snakes, (Whatever TF they are)

    • Jugg says:

      02:53pm | 05/02/11

      And theft is noble Gavin?

    • Gregg says:

      11:37am | 04/02/11

      What you have is hearsay unless you saw the evidence and if not how do you not know it is the colleague with sticky fingers attempting to divert potential blame or it could be that if something was going on, the colleague may be trying a drip feed off into his own well of wealth, hoping that if the shit hits the fan, noone will notice his small % syphoning act.

      How much had the colleague had to drink by the times his lips became looser and don’t you just love secrets, they’re never a great one unless you can tell someone else and hold them to secrecy.
      Does he have a literary interest and is he fantasising over a novel and is looking to add a little intrigue into the plot, perhaps a lead heroine sleuth figure, you know, the detective type with graceful curves and librarian inquisitiveness and glasses to match.

      But we should add to the plot and get Julian Assuange in on the act to for that could mean a further international influence that may just help to keep him from the clutches of the ruthless Vikings of the north or worse still the immigrants of the new country in the west who may even fly him via Egypt which is not a real great place to be right now.

      Though for Julian, it could lead to his escape and discovery of new secrets about The Raiders of whatever and could even lead to greater disclosure on just how much of the Crown Jewells is hand me downs or at least nicked stuff from the Pharoahs, an international incident looming to warrant the best stuff from Harry and his squadron of Spooks.

      Where this never ending story could head is anyone’s dream but if there’s enough in it for blackmail, lets be careful!

      Reply

    • Nick says:

      01:57pm | 05/02/11

      Love your comment smile))

    • Trevor says:

      11:38am | 04/02/11

      A few years back I had just started as CEO of a small national company when an employee came and saw me with a “suspicion” that something was not quite right with our largest customer and the sales team looking after them. This “suspicion” turned out to be significant fraud ($100’s of $1000’s) between employees of BOTH companies. If it had gone on much longer it would have wiped out my company. I am eternally greatful to that employee! No CEO wants a fraud to occur on their watch!
      If you dont have the confidence to be direct on the matter, just type up a note outlining the exact allegations that you have “heard” (dont sign it!) and say you are “concerned” about the future of the company (not on any vendetta against anyone!) and mail it marked “private and confidential to the CEO. If he is any earning half his money, he will at the very least make discrete investigations to see if there is any substance to the matter first. If it is just hearsay, the alleged theif has nothing to worry about.

      Reply

    • Likes Joining Dots says:

      03:25pm | 04/02/11

      Trevor, I take your point and I’m pleased to hear the ‘suspicions’ were confirmed (ok, that came out all wrong, but I hope you know what I mean.)

      Conversely, what if the employee had approached you with these suspicions of fraud and the employee was subsequently found out to be wrong (let’s assume no malicious intent etc). What would the result for the employee have been?

      I’m not being judgemental mind you, but it’s a big step for an employee to report fraud in case they are wrong - but I am curious though how a CEO would view it.

    • Caz says:

      11:40am | 04/02/11

      I think you need to think very carefully about the colleague who told you, and consider his motivation in telling you.

      If he’s that sure of his evidence, why isn’t he doing something about it himself? And if it’s because he’s worried about harming his career, why doesn’t he mind you damaging yours by saying something?

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      12:00pm | 04/02/11

      The comments in this thread so far shock and worry me.

      There is only one solution for a true Australian.

      Contact Today Tonight or ACA. If you want to go with a program or publication that has an actually audience I would recommend People Magazine.

      Offer to sell your story. Use 2-3 mobiles so they can hear you talking to the opposition. Get as much as you can. If you get in trouble sell your story of subsequent punishment to New Idea or Womans Weekly.

      After that write a novel. Include a reference to persecution, Bush, Howard and Guantanimo Bay. This will give you much free publicity from guys like Marr and Ellis. They won’t read it or understand any of the facts but they will rabbiot on about “stuff” that is important. Oh - these references are best put on the back dust jacket. As I said they will nto actually read the novel but they need a quotable source.

      Just remembered, get Birmingham to write the preamble. A bit of unjustified and righteous indignation also helps. 

      Ensure the title has Under or Belly in it. Preferably both.

      Case fixed. You get cash. The boss gets shafted but is able to launch his own show with Capper and Chopper.

      Win win all around.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      12:29pm | 04/02/11

      Any other course of action would be unAustralian.  Worse - bloody unAustralian, even.

    • Nick says:

      02:01pm | 05/02/11

      Spot on smile

    • Lynda says:

      09:47am | 06/02/11

      Absolutely…....Why on earth did I not think of that.  We have taken the “whinging Pommie”  Tag and made it our own…..It makes sense to emulate the Americans.  When you know something, sell it to the media then scrupulously search for a loophole allowing that all encompassing…..impending litigation….  Judge Judy seems to have become a celebrity.  Definitely score a book deal and await the photo opportunities…..

    • AdamC says:

      12:04pm | 04/02/11

      On some level, your friend wants you to do something. That is why they told you the secret.

      Approach the company on the basis that you do not want your name mentioned in connection with the matter. Give the company what information you have, without revealing the source of your information. The company can then conduct their own inquiries to establish the facts of the matter. If they don’t, it’s not on you.

      If you are reasonably certain that your friend isn’t involved in the theft, I would also tell your friend what you are doing and encourage them to expose their boss. However, you should think hard about why your friend is keen on secrecy. Are they trying to use you to deflect attention away from their own guilt?

      Reply

    • waynemlburns says:

      12:23pm | 04/02/11

      Sure. Tell all.  The best thing about burning bridges is standing on the other side and reveling in the blaze.

      Reply

    • sarah says:

      12:27pm | 04/02/11

      It would probably come under the Whistleblowing policy for the company and I am sure they would want to be made aware of anything that could damage them financially or reputationally,  but considering you don’t hold any evidence you are probably best to encourage your ex collegue to take his evidence to the relevant area first, because otherwise it’s hearsay and if you don’t have your ex collegues support if you were questioned where you got your information from they could deny everything, and you look like a disgruntled ex worker - and potentially ruin your references.  If you have enough of the story to put it down on paper as trevor says consider submitting it as anon.

      Reply

    • iMitchy says:

      12:45pm | 04/02/11

      Most thefts are opportunistic. I f the means presents itself many would succumb to greed. I am sure that this person has a family and is a good person but could not overcome the temptation to steal.

      If it were me I would contact the theif anonymously and let them know that someone knows what they are doing and that there is evidence. Say that if it stops now, you guarantee discretion. Even if you only say that it is no more than hearsay, it will put the pressure on the person to stop immediately should the rumours be true and take away the burden of accusation should it prove to be nonsense.
      This could save a lot of pain to all parties and the massive cost of investigations and court cases. The offender will be thankful instead of resentful and will probably be relieved that they no longer have to fear getting caught, or thankful that they can address any rediculous rumours and the causes responsible for them.

      Reply

    • Boo says:

      05:41pm | 04/02/11

      Oh please! What kind of solution is this? Are you a first year psych student?

      Dob the bloke in already anonymous!

    • Frankie says:

      12:57pm | 04/02/11

      Why not just make an anonymous tip to crime stoppers. A bit of forensic accounting on their part will uncover any anomalies.

      Reply

    • Reg says:

      06:42am | 05/02/11

      I think that exclaiming at the top of your voice, “NO I WILL NOT KEEP IT A SECRET” should do the trick. All the guilty would be regretting they hadn’t worn their brown trousers to the party. smile

      Especially if you’ve just been speaking to the CEO.

    • Kika says:

      01:09pm | 04/02/11

      Do it. Dob them in. Free your conscience. If your state has a crime and misconduct commission you could report it as an anonymous whistleblower.

      Reply

    • Gavin says:

      01:30pm | 04/02/11

      I must say I am infuriated with comments here. People need to get a life.
      If you no longer work there, what concern is it of yours? None!
      Who should be keeping track of company assets and property? The boss, that’s who. And before some S-A decides to use the “but what if it was a murder” diatribe, please stop and think about that comparison. When did the trend of minding other people’s business become so entrenched?

      Reply

    • anonymous says:

      01:53pm | 04/02/11

      Thanks Gavin. Until I was put in this situation I’d probably have agreed with you.  I guess the thing that’s playing on my conscience is that I saw this guy fire lots of people due to the GFC etc, because the company couldn’t afford to keep paying their salaries.  Knowing he stole the equivalent of several colleagues’ annual salaries kind of infuriates me.

    • AdamC says:

      02:05pm | 04/02/11

      Gavin, it may not be a murder, but it is still a crime.

      I hope you wouldn’t expect anyone to tell you if someone was stealing from you, what with your ‘it’s not my problem’ attitude.

    • alessio says:

      02:17pm | 04/02/11

      you are right, let’s get some beers and go to the beach, it’s friday arvo, who cares about the thief and the CEO…next week we’ll talk about my cat: should I trim his nails or let them grow….

    • Khrystene says:

      02:56pm | 04/02/11

      When did the attitude of turning a blind eye to corruption become so entrenched in our society?!

      The CEOs not stealing because he’s bloody hungry is he?!

    • Laura says:

      03:21pm | 04/02/11

      Gavin.,, absolutely! Let the guy that told him grab his balls & dob this theif in.

    • mary says:

      04:10pm | 04/02/11

      When is it called an accessory after the fact Gavin and when is it called minding your own business? Depends on your morals I guess. May also depend if you have had people steal from you and how that has affected your life and the lives of the people around you.

      What is infuriating is people only being concerned with their own comfort.

    • Gregg says:

      04:21pm | 04/02/11

      I don’t think it was ever unentrenched Gavin and even before they started sending convicts out for someone minding what the felons were up to not minding someone elses business, our indigenous folks had spearing paybacks and pointing the bone ceremonies.

      I even had to mind what our local green frog was up to the other night when Yasi was visiting those further afield for some glass cover panels on the outdoor aquariam were ratlling and freddo had managed to get in and was headbutting the panels in an effort to get out.

      I reckon you’d infuriate rather easy Gavin and hate to think how you’d be with an ex Bikie driving your bus and not allowing you to watch a DVD you had even bought yourself even if it had been a waste of $10.95

    • HeatherG says:

      08:39pm | 04/02/11

      Oh, Gavin, saw that someone who broke into your house last week. Sorry about all that stuff you lost. I happen to know who he is, so it would probably get some of your stuff back, so I was going to tell someone, maybe you, or the police, but then decided that it “wasn’t my problem” because I don’t know you, work with you, and I have a life, and besides, it’s your job to be keeping track of your own assets and property. You should have *known* someone was going to steal from you. Besides, it’d make you mad if I butted my nose into your thief’s business.

      Sorry ‘bout that.

      See?

      Anon is partially unhappy because the person doing the 300k + theft also canned people from their jobs because the “company couldn’t afford it”. Maybe if Old White Collar Crime wasn’t embezzling from the company, they’d still have one. Sounds a bit like, if this guy is hiring and firing, that he’s the one who’s in charge of “keeping an eye on things” anyhow.

    • petery says:

      06:38pm | 05/02/11

      If the same guy was robbing you,you would not be carrying with all this crap about being called a dobber,you would leading the charge to have him lynched. You would not be any stretch of imagiunation want him to get away with it.

      There is no honour involved in not doing something about it. All concepts of being reviiled as a sneak or a dobber fit into a simple minded school boy morality code, which is juvenile and adolescent by definition and anyone who still lives by it in their twenties and beyond is hardly an adult. in their thinking.This is one of those dubious private school values that those of us in the real world can live without.  This is bigger than just having your lunch money stolen by a bully, and maybe only an adult can see why such a pathetic adolescent notion should not apply.

      The business world,wharever it thinks, is not exempt from normal codes of morality, and neither you or I, would want to do business with a person we know to be dishonest and likely to cheat us. Neither, I would assume.does the guilty party. Unless of course, we operate under the same code as they do. and this is the only excuse I can see for not reporting it.

      Big crooks deserve the best, a free room and meals at a public insititution at taxpayer’s expense.  If the evidence is there, he deserves to be dobbed in,  and take the consequences. He should not be able to count of getting away with it,because he thinks everyone went to the same private school with its warped code of moral values,as he did.

    • Mathew says:

      01:46pm | 04/02/11

      Get your Wikileaks on IMO

      Reply

    • rodney allsworth says:

      02:21pm | 04/02/11

      to remain silent is to condone the thiefs actions, and this is the very reason why so much pilfering goes on in this country, when thieves rob stores and shops, somebody pays the price, guess who, and thats why we should be committed to reporting theft of any kind, we live in a democracy, UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, in other words there is no excuse for theft.

      rod   qld

      Reply

    • Khrystene says:

      02:29pm | 04/02/11

      Blow the whistle. Even if you do it anonymously.

      Companies like this with their thieving CEOs and gutless employees and shareholders are the reason the world’s in a financial shit-hole these days. Time to blow the lid off it.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      02:32pm | 04/02/11

      As Mr Gilbert once taught me: “nobody likes a grass”

      Reply

    • mary says:

      02:40pm | 04/02/11

      We’ve had staff steal from us on a number of occasions, if you don’t report as far as I’m concerned; accessory after the fact.

      For everyone looking the other way; whatever action you take, even if this is ignoring what you know; ignoring/condoning is participating.

      Reply

    • Michael says:

      05:12pm | 04/02/11

      Sorry Mary, I have a right to silence and to not be charged as an accessory simply for not participating in the investigation.

    • Craig says:

      06:50pm | 04/02/11

      @ Michael

      If you were working for me and knew but didn’t report someone in the company stealing, you wouldn’t stay working for me that’s for sure.

      NOT having the courage to speak up when other innocent people are being hurt is just gutless.

    • Laura says:

      03:20pm | 04/02/11

      Why can’t the guy that told you man up & report the thief himself? If you’re planning to stay in the industry & if the thief has a lot of clout, I’d be waiting for the guy that told you to let his conscience get the better of him.

      It’s unfair of him to put you in this moral dilemma, espessially considering that you don’t even work there anymore.

      Reply

    • John Smythe says:

      03:53pm | 04/02/11

      What a lot of you are forgetting is that the OP doesn’t have the eveidence. Purely the heresay of an ex-colleague.

      While the desire to “do the right thing” is admirable, there is nothing the OP can do without said evidence. The responsibility lays with the person with the evidence.

      To do so otherwise opens you up to a lot more issues than just doing the right thing.

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      04:08pm | 04/02/11

      Ignorance is bliss sometimes, especially in a situation like this. Now that you know what’s going on it would reflect on you poorly no matter what you do. If you tell someone you’ll be a dobber, if you don’t then you become part of it.

      I worked for an absolute prick in north QLD for 2 years. During that time he broke just about every environmental condition in our plan of operations, endangered people by completely ignoring safety, destroyed the mine grade by blowing pillars and hanging walls, caused 6 months downtime, was a party in receiving kickbacks from suppliers, replaced most of the management team with his mates and business partners in a real estate consortium, and caused 250 people to be made redundant.

      He also, as a parting gift, signed over the resident manager position to someone who thought it was just for a brief leave coverage, but it was actually signing over for good. So when the DMR came round to prosecute him for various things the poor bugger who’s name was now on the certificate was the one who got dragged through the courts.

      Everyone knew what was going on, but this guy had also boasted that to keep in control, you need to sack at least one person a week…which he did. It was a horrible time…I’ve kept a diary of the whole time but not taken it anywhere.

      He has been banned from working in QLD (as far as I know), but my reluctance to speak up is now playing on my mind - what other operation is he doing this to now?

      Yes acotrel…permission to use the word GRUB to its full effect here smile

      Reply

    • Laura says:

      04:21pm | 04/02/11

      Did somebody knock his teeth in at least?

    • Jim says:

      05:16pm | 04/02/11

      It came close Laura…awful close. But in a tight job market no one wanted to push it…we just hoped he’d go away.

    • Gregg says:

      10:53pm | 04/02/11

      Look at what happened Jim and that says if it was as bad as you portray and having mining experience myself, you and I both know what a dangerous industry it can be and we do get regularly reminded of tragic accidents that can happen even without someone flouting regulations helping them along the way.
      Aside from mines inspectors, where was the Union?

    • acotrel says:

      07:09am | 06/02/11

      JIm, I’m sorry to hear of your experience.  I long ago became aware that the system runs on bullshit, and I was much happier. In one of my old workplaces which was the woest I experienced, the factory manager was the rep. for the professionals’ union.  So he had the game sewn up. All you can do in that situation is carefully leave an opportunity for the criminal to shoot himself in the foot. Yes - GRUB is the correct term for those sociopaths.

    • mary says:

      05:12pm | 04/02/11

      Hey Jim, I’ve spoken up a lot of times in the past when I felt this was warranted. And can’t recall one occasion where this was received with gratitude or thanks. That’s just not how our society runs. In the case which you describe obviously stacks of people knew what what going on and no one (seemingly?) spoke up. In the end society is the poorer for this and In the end we all have to live with our own conscience.

      The way society is set up sometimes the only option left is anonymous reporting (only ever done that once with child abuse in the neighbourhood and boy did that come back and bite me on the bum (happy I did though) .. in the end you have to live with yourself.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      05:45pm | 04/02/11

      What appears on this page defending employees who steal from the company, is the very reason that security management systems don’t work in Australia.  Those systems depend on information from the peer group.  So we can’t really complain if terrorists make a successful attack in our country? It’s a 200 year old tradition that we don’t inform on our mates.  We might pay dearly for that some day.

      Reply

    • Carlos says:

      06:53pm | 04/02/11

      @ Acotrel

      I don’t dob on my mates, no way.
      But if someone is putting my pay at risk and backstabbing my coworkers and friends, they’re not really my mate, are they?

    • Ann Onymouse says:

      08:16am | 05/02/11

      What is wrong with dobbing in anyone if they have done something inexcusable.  I have always favoured gong to the top with an anonymous letters tp various people as I’m not brave enough to be a real whistle blower who should all get Orders of Australia.

      Reply

    • Mary Monica Roche says:

      10:22am | 05/02/11

      Rule 1
      The Boss is always right.
      Rule 2
      See rule one and avoid the sack

      Reply

    • Thommo says:

      10:28am | 05/02/11

      I can’t get over the so-called dilemmas that punch post on here as if there’s some moral quandary in each decision. In EVERY single one the answer is as plain as the nose on gillards face. In this instance, once again, do what’s right. Stop a criminal from stealing. It’s a no-brainer.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      07:13am | 06/02/11

      Thommo, It’s not a no-brainer when you have a sociopath working the system.

    • PS says:

      10:37am | 05/02/11

      I used to work for a medium sized, once great and well known Australian manufacturing company with at least a 50 year history (bought out by another company and name changed a few years ago).

      Anyway, I started there as a naive 17 year old metalwork apprentice.

      It soon became obvious to me that theft was going on from the lowest to the highest levels of the company.
      Part of my apprenticeship involved welding together metal work projects for the factory manager. For his home. Things like large, elaborate double metal gates for his residence. At the end of the day I had to cover his various projects with tarps and was told by him not to discuss what I was making (I was 17 and rather green). At other times I would be asked to load ample quantities of the whitegoods we manufactured onto a tray-top truck for delivery to his home address. Just doing what the boss asked me to do.

      At the other end of the scale was the pilfering of a certain valuable scrap metal by factory employees day by day and people just walking out a side door with finished goods on a hand-truck and loading them onto a trailer or truck.

      One day I told the company accountant about some of the things I’d seen. After his initial mock concern, it turned out he was on the take too!

      So, yes by all means tell the CEO - but don’t be surprised if they’re in on it too.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      07:20am | 06/02/11

      I.ve also worked for a company where the CEO used his manufacturing facility to make equipment for his farm.  At the time I wondered about the tax implications. The accountant for that company committed suicide, just before he was due to start his next job. - very strange?

    • Nick says:

      01:54pm | 05/02/11

      I think if you PROMISED not to say anything, you should keep the word.
      You don’t know if it is true. You’ve heard from someone about your ex-co-worker. You didn’t see the evidence yourself and, again, most importantly, you made a promise.
      Though, this is my understanding of the term promise smile

      Reply

    • OchreBunyip says:

      02:25pm | 05/02/11

      I guess the lesson here is be careful what you promise and promise nothing sight unseen.

      Reply

    • Shelley says:

      09:59pm | 05/02/11

      It’s just hearsay if you personally don’t have any telling evidence (date stamped photos?) or witness the theft yourself.

      It can be viewed as gossip and sour grapes.

      Reply
 
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