What should she do?

Question

My mom works at a nonprofit organization, and it's really tiny. As in 10 people tiny. The current president is stepping down in January to retire, and the accountant (if you would call her that) is BY THEORY quitting in December.

Both have been suspected of stealing from the company, but that's beside the point.

Basically my mom and the accountant (we'll call her Sheila) have been at odds with each other since Sheila wouldn't do her work, couldn't account for a LOT of money, and took 4 hour work days when she's working full time.

My mom went to her today and told her that life is too short to be angry. Truce.

Shiela went home for lunch and took 3 hours to get her hair done. Shiela's best friend came to my mom while she was working (manning the phones while everyone was at lunch) and threatened her. She told her that God will show her what goes around comes around and to not be surprised if she gets stabbed in the back. There was more to it.

What should she do?

Should she file a police report? What?

No one at work believes her, and when she told the president, the president responded that my mom instigated it by telling her that life is too short to be angry.

ANY insight would be great.

Answer 1

No evidence as they were in private conversation.

Just warned your mom to be careful and get a recorder to record every conversation if possible.

Help your mom to establish the capability of contructive confrontation. This may help to resolve problems. After every effort, you may call authority with proper evidence.

Furthermore, your mom seemed working to hard . She should get some alliance in her working place.

Finally, even Non-profit Organization, there would be some monitoring by authoirty. If they are falsing account, they are still considered as defraud.

Answer 2

Ask you mom to find work some where else quickly. When a ship is sinking people will trip you on the way to the life boat.

When I was younger I stuck around while a couple of businesses went under and I didn't gain anything except headaches and a partial last check.

Changing a job is hard, kind of like getting a divorce but in either case the relationship still falls apart and you have to start over in life. So the sooner your mother finds a new job the better off she will be.

Answer 3

Non Profit Organization has to file their tax returns with all relevant regulatory agencies - could be city, state, and IRS.
If the officer, employees willfully embezzed money from the organization for their own use and fasfied their financial records, evading taxes, it could be very serious crime.
If those people got caught with evidence, and wittness, someone will go to jail. The regulatory agency may ask them to cease business. (They do not allow any so-called "Non Profit" organization raise money for themselves in stead of the charitable activities for the public).
1. Non-Profit organization is very bad place to work for - small, no money, very little growth potential.
2. Ask your mother to prepare her resume, and ready to find another job - I understand this is very difficult, since your mom is not that young, and with the small Non-Profit org. experience is of almost no value. Sorry, I have to be honest with you. Non Profit org. activities are too simple. But if she wish to work for couple of years, she has no choice but to try againl
3. She has to be very careful in the Non Profit org. Do not blow the whistle. Once she does that she has to leave immediately. Therefore, I suggest that she just have to keep her nose clean, mouth shut for the time being. Continue to do her work, and not to get involve in any other peoples business, to keep trouble away.
4. Of course, watch herself, not allow any one to hurt her. i think as long as she is not going to be a whistle blower, she should be all right at the present time.
5. If the atmosphere changes from "bad" to "worse" in the future, then, she will have no choice to look for another job.
Remember, Safety first! whatever direction she choice. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like someone should call the authorities on those two, then find a better place to work. Once those two people leave, whoever comes in to replace them will see what a mess the place is, and then it will hit the fan.

Answer 5

I think if those two are suspected of stealing from the company, especially a non-profit that has stricter rules and regs, they could be charged with embezzling funds and your Mom needs to watch her back.
She needs to contact the authorities to tell them what she knows or suspects and also needs to mention that veiled threat.