Deborah OConnor March 17, 2014
March 16, 2014
March 17, 2014
How responsible are you for wrongdoing? We all come across it at one timeor another in our careers, but just where does the buck stop? I received two interesting letters, which I will share with you.
Dear Deborah:
Last week I was busy in my cubicle, quietly working on a deadline. However, I did overhear a conversation between two of my coworkers. One of themwas bragging about how he had filched a laptop computer from theoffice. This is, of course, a fancy word for stolen. He was quite proudof the fact that he had managed to steal this computer without beingcaught. What is my responsibility in this case? I don’t want to be atroublemaker nor a whistle-blower. I like my job, my colleagues, andwould like to keep things this way. Any advice?
Dear Deborah:
I don’t know what to do and can’t stop thinking about what happened atwork yesterday. I was in my friend’s office going over a report. Hereached down to open a drawer and there was his 9mm handgun. I wasshocked. Now don’t get me wrong, he is one of my best friends, has acarry permit and is a gun-safety advocate. He is a solid guy, never been in trouble, our families are good friends, and he just did a stupidthing. I asked him what he was thinking bringing a weapon into theoffice. He told me he had a shooting lesson after work and didn’t wantto leave it in the car. It was in a holster, but still guns of any sortare not allowed in the office. I told him he was a fool for doing this.What is my responsibility here? My instinct is to tell him never to doit again and say nothing. Help!
I think these two issues haveseparate answers. First, let me say that I am not an attorney and amonly offering my opinion. As for the idiot who brought a gun to work, it sounds like an honest mistake and I would be tempted to let it go. This is the South, after all, and he did have a legal permit to carry a gun. Even though he violated a work code, he did not break the law.
The braggart who stole a computer, however, did break the law. I see threeways to handle this. The first is to report what you heard to yoursupervisor and let him or her handle the situation. The second is toanonymously let the thief know that you know what he did and if thecomputer is not returned, you will report him. The third and most likely is to anonymously report him to your supervisor, thereby preventingyour involvement and potential whistle blowing. The choice is yours.
Assuming that you do some work at home some office supplies might be necessaryfor you to complete your task. But there is a fine line between bringing things home and stealing and you don’t want to cross this line.
Please feel free to send questions to [email protected]. I will answer them in my weekly column.
Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skillsnecessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contact at:[email protected] www.successfulimage.biz
