Last week our boss was gone on vacation. One of the people who is the head of our shop (manufacturing) (who doesn't do much but stand around) decided that he was going to build himself a coffee table out of the companies scrap material. He built it on work time (after all he just stands around anyway) with extra "scrap", and also used company sand paper and stain to finish it out (that's not scrap). I don't work out in the shop (my husband does, he's the one who saw it) and I don't know if I should say anything or not. I consider it to be stealing but I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to cause problems (because my husband told me and I didn't see it for myself) and my husband won't say anything... Should I?
On another occasion this same person was seen at work on a Saturday (he has a key) and told the office manager he was making a scratching post for his girlfriends cat. She thought it was just the greatest thing and told the owner, I don't think he had much to say.
2006-09-07 16:12:18 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
I know for sure that he didn't ask anyone to take the scrap and how do we know it was really scrap anyway?? Should I just stay out of it?
2006-09-07 16:13:09 · update #1
What Lynda wrote is heartfelt, but wrong!
We work in a large community, everyone's job affects another's!
Think of Enron, if someone said, "Hey, i think that sounds wrong" this all might have been stopped so much earlier.
If you know something wrong is going on, do something about it. You'll save someone's job.
And if you lose your job there, Take up accounting!!
We love professionals who have the strength to do the right thing.
2006-09-07 16:47:25 · answer #1 · answered by MattMan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry put yourself in your bosses shoes. My gawd I work for a small company less than 25 employee's and its a construction company. Heck ya I would mention it there are ways you can bring it to your bosses attention. One is mention while he was gone the employee sure made a neat looking coffee table out of the scrap that was there let the boss take it from there for if he has a problem with it he will catch the information you have just given him. If any thing is said about you mention it to the boss well you just assumed he knew since it was on company time. And if you don't want to get involved hey type out a note telling him off the computer and mail it to the attention of the boss.letting him know what all is going on an that your a concerned employee that value's your job and afraid of what will happen if anyone knows who told. How would you feel if the company belonged to you and that happen. Besides you know it does effect you in the long run when it comes time for the boss to make decisions on who gets raises and how much if there is theft in the company then profits are down and guess what the raises will also be less due to the company don't have it. Its your choice. Myself have been in the same postion and yes I walked straight up to my boss when we were alone and told him but that also depends on how you and your boss gets along. On how easy it will be for you and that he would not bring your name up. For in the long run everyone that knows is just as guilty as the one doing it. Good Luck!
2006-09-07 21:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you are in a small shop. This person is already collecting a pay check for standing around. Do you really think the boss is that naive to his work productivity? He could be a plant to see who else maybe stealing. Just stay clear, or ask if there is any company code of conduct for using "SCRAP" material for personal use. It almost always backfires when you try to do the right thing, in these kinds of cases.
2006-09-07 16:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by BeenDareDoneThat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's nice that at least the boss has some honest workers. But please stay out of it unless you or your husband are planning to leave the company.
REASON: Don't take-on either the owner's or the office manager's responsibility for supervising the staff and thereby risk your own jobs or get reputations as snitches or brown-nosers. (In the case you described, they are aware but either don't care or don't have the courage to take action. If you say something, they will take action and could then blame it on you.) Just be patient, if the boss is a good businessman, he is watching and he'll give the unproductive shop head enough rope to hang himself -- unless that employee is related to him.
2006-09-07 16:21:06 · answer #4 · answered by Lynda 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even though it was your husband who related what he saw, it is best for you to stay out of it. This shop head (foreman?) technically was stealing, and, again technically, if your hubby knew of it and said nothing, hubby could be charged as an accessory to the crime. It's a difficult call: some employers wouldn't object to such a thing happening now and then, but most others would be incensed, not so much over the value of the materials taken, but because of the betrayal of trust involved. I'd tell your hubby that, but let him make the decision whether to speak to the boss-man. If you worked there also, it'd be different, but technically (yeah, I know I used that word twice already) all you have to go by is heresay.
2006-09-07 16:33:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's a pickle! Truly an ethical quandry. Although it is wrong to cover for someone you know is stealing, you did not witness it yourself. I look at it from a legal perspective, you did not witness the act and so your testimony would be hearsay. Now, if your hubby witnessed the stealing with his own eyes, he should come forward. You can always report this to human resources anonimously. Wow! This is a tough one. I see why you are stressed about this. Best of luck.
2006-09-07 16:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by RiverGirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i imagine lunch is an spectacular theory. initially, if she's a coworker, it doesn't seem atypical. you're both interior a similar progression, so neither one among you has to pass out of your way, so it doesn't seem a date. For some reason, lunch is likewise more beneficial casual. If she does have a boyfriend, you're merely 2 human beings going to lunch, and also you'll dodge the awkwardness. If she doesn't have a bf, it really is an straightforward thanks to get to entice close her more beneficial positive and be certain in case you quite opt to pass on a real date date. strong success.
2016-10-15 23:32:02 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theft is theft. Concealing theft is a crime all by itself.
Look inside yourself. Can you live with it?
2006-09-07 16:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by Stuart 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not really your place to say anything and you didn't witness it your self.
2006-09-07 16:18:19 · answer #9 · answered by Smitty 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋