You have already been threatened by your: supervisor, manager and the VP of the dept to keep quiet. You know there is one more person you can tell but if you do, you will be fired.
2007-09-29 11:42:37 · 38 answers · asked by Marroll 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I was looking for a job when I found this one.
I would contact OSHA, if they fired me i would sue, and get my job back, and then start looking for a job where they cared about and for their employees.
2007-09-30 09:01:08 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋
First off, it looks like you have already done "the right thing" even in the face of adversity, and risk to your own professional career. That is a noble quality, and I commend you for that. But I am going to take the opposite side on this one, even though I am very short on the facts.
First off, I have held and done some dangerous jobs in my life, and I am one of the most cautious and safety conscious people you will ever meet, BUT, if there are 3 guys that are wiser, more intelligent, and more experienced people than me telling me that my safety concerns are exagerated, I will listen very hard to them. They might be right, and you may be wrong, especially if you are new to the trade that you are practicing. There is such a thing as an acceptible amount of risk.
I used to be an idealist, and I used to never stand for any "rule breaking" or "imprfect conditions", but now that I'm a little older and wiser I still don't like imperfection, but I am more tolerant of it. Perfect work conditions are nearly impossible to obtain, and some trades are by their nature just plain dangerous.
If someone's life is really in danger, you need to try to remedy the situation yourself if there is a workable solution. If pretty much everybody disagrees with you, you need to consider the possibility that you are wrong. Without more facts, it is hard to give any more concrete of an answer.
A little risk is not necessarily a bad thing, and too much safety is not always a good thing.
But most of all, if this job is making you unhappy, you really should try to find a better job, and good luck to you whatever you do.
2007-09-30 12:46:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ethically, you have done all that can be done. Telling one more person is not necessarily going to do anything more than has already been done. If it is a supervisor's supervisor, then you are simply repeating something you've already tried. Supervisors typically trust their supervisees to get things done, and if you've already informed that person, then it's unlikely that anything further will get done.
The one thing you can do rises beyond the call of living ethically, and is truly full of risk. Should you choose to do it, you must remember that you are putting yourself, your family, your livelihood, and your future on the line based on your judgment of what "could" happen. (And others who are familiar with the situation have indicated that they question your judgment on this matter.) That possible action is to play the role of whistle-blower and go to the local newspaper and broadcast news media. If you do this, you will be seen as an unreliable, volatile employee, and you will be unlikely to be hired within your field.
Were I offering advice to you, I would strongly recommend against doing this. While I know it may feel like you should do more and more to protect this person's life, the responsibility you hold is to notify the proper authority. After that, the responsibility lies with them. If you don't trust them, then I recommend that you find another place to work where you trust your supervisors both to back you up and to care for the people they are responsible for helping.
I wish you luck and peace.
2007-09-30 09:33:35 · answer #3 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Indeed Maroll, no job is worth risking the life of another. If you don't speak up and something awful does happen you will feel horribly guilty for the rest of your life. I know you wouldn't want to feel partly responsible for the death of another. Blow the whistle immediately, before something does happen. If you cannot speak to a lawyer today, do so after afterward. He'll be able to give you the best advice. Quitting will save you a strike on your resume and is probably your best option. I have a friend who worked on Capitol Hill and blew the whistle on the illegal goings-on of a company there. Any company that would allow this kind of dangerous antic to go on is not worth your time or effort. Tell whomever you can ASAP, and try to get a lawyer just as quickly. He or she can help you from there, whether you choose to quit or be fired.
Best of luck to you. Sorry you have to be in the midst of such a terrible situation.
2007-09-30 10:13:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
First, you start looking for a different employer! Geez!
Then you:
TELL EVERYBODY!!
There are many, many worse things than being fired... DEAD is one of them. I should think a person of intergrity will have no trouble finding a new situation.
(The thing I've always kept in mind:
I was looking for a job when I found this one....)
If this is a real-life situation; notify newspapers, OSHA, Labor -board, whom-ever can help!Call a cop!
Whistle-blowers only have a bad rep with the people who got "blown".
A lot of us owe a great deal to the whistle-blowers out there.
Keeping your mouth shut in the only BAD option here!
SCREAM BLOODY-MURDER! and KEEP screaming, 'til someone hears you that can DO something about this.
Good luck. I hope it works out well for you, and all the employees
in this -ah- company...
2007-09-30 10:06:36 · answer #5 · answered by Ja'aj };> 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Inform, but in a clearly documented way.
Write a professional letter - facts only - avoid opinion or 'loaded language' (blame, accusation, negativity). Address it to the 'one more person' you mention. At the bottom of the letter (underneath your signature) clearly state that the letter is being copied to you supervisor, manager, VP and the local labor board. This raises the issue in a way that demands attention, and ensures you have the documentation you need protect yourself (and win a lawsuit if it comes to that).
Take your time in deciding to quit, the company may realize that you are a person of integrity and courage, and this action may open doors for you, you never know. Best wishes.
E-mail if you want more suggestions on letter format, or a proof reader.
2007-09-30 09:10:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 0⤋
The situation arises where if someone doesnt do their job another could die... every day in lots of different workplaces, from the guy who makes your sushi, to the cab driver, building supervisor, nurse, policeman... doctor, defense lawyer... you name it... lots of them.
In all of these jobs you do your own job and if you see or hear or learn of a risk which could endanger another, you notify the person responsible of your concerns. Seems you have done that.
As for "keeping quiet" if you are absolutely certain that this risk is not being attended to, take the next step... but be warned, not everybody sees things from your perspective.. so ask someone you trust whether they think it is a life threatening risk that is being ignored.
2007-09-29 13:30:12 · answer #7 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 10⤊ 0⤋
You already know the right thing to do. If someone has the potential to die because of someones lack of brains or won't do their job, You tell someone, anyone who will listen, you know that one person you can still tell. If you get fired, follow up with a lawsuit. Good luck.
2007-10-01 00:12:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As george and others have mentioned already,I would contact OSHA(if applicable to the situation) or possibly seek legal advise as soon as possible...I assume that you have already gone to the person with your concerns and received no response...It does not make sense that a responsible supervisor would not intervene with some input or offer some sort of correction to the offending party....
2007-09-30 09:43:09 · answer #9 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most that answered and can't possibly offer a better answer then the ones already given but I will tell you this, a life is too precious for you to not protect.
You can't possibly want someones death on your conscience over any type of job it's just not worth it. Sweetie get yourself another job but before you do tell! tell! tell!
2007-09-30 13:10:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You must tell someone. No job is worth someone's life or safety.
If you are in crisis and you feel you have no one to talk to, begin by calling a stress line. We have them here in Canada, but I don't know where you are from. Also, what about your labour board and the local police. Especially if you've been threatened. That's just ridiculous.
blessings :)
2007-09-30 11:34:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋