Ethical Dilemma: Would you choose to do your job over your relationship with your co-employees?

sprng4ward

Yes, if its serious enough of where it could danger my job, yes I would. As a HR member/employee you are supposed to uphold all ethical standards of employment regardless of your friendship.

Alterfemego

I think you have an obligation as an employee to protect the best interests of the company. But be careful, this is a real pit if your boss is in cahoots with the offender. I wouldn't do or say anything unless I had documented proof. If not, you risk your job and any references for future employment. So make sure by having some documentation that proves that the person committed the offense.

Mel

BECAUSE you work in HR, you are obligated to report this situation. What would you do if it were discovered, and you were called into court? Testify that you knew about it but did nothing? That would make you culpable as well.

Sorry, I know it's difficult - but if this person doesn't have the scruples to do what is right, they obviously don't value your friendship/business relationship. If the situation were reversed, would they cover for you? Not likely, I'd guess. Everybody knows what the rules are when they sign on.

You'll feel better about yourself knowing that you did the right thing. Good luck.

leysarob

Absolutely.

That actually happened in my company. Person over payroll was stealing funds. No one would report her. Finally some lower level employee did. Jobs were lost all over the place because it had not been reported by those who knew.

Report it!

J P

That would really depend on the "offense" and the justification for it. Was it done on company time or in the person's off time? Do you have proof or just word of mouth?

This is a very tough call because there are several issues at play that you may or may not be aware of and rushing to judgment is not a good thing. If you have proof of what happened you can report it anonymously, thereby "doing your duty" and also not jeopardizing your relationship with your coworkers. That of course assumes the proof is something other than a conversation because the other person(s) involved in the conversation could just say you're lying.

As a member of the HR department, it's your responsibility (and your job) to act when you find out things like this about the employees. However, it can back-fire especially if there is more than one person involved. Talk to your supervisor with the hypothetical and ask him/her how you should deal with it.

CatLaw

Yes I would put the company first. Legally as an employee you owe the company a fiduciary duty. What that means out of court is that if you see someone purposely harm the company in a serious manner, you are obligated to let your boss know about it. The reality is that if the harm this co-worker causes is big enough and the boss has even a hint that you knew about it, you will be implicated because you did not report the harm.

We do not go to work to make friends, we work to make money. Do not put a 'relationship' before your livelihood. As a member of HR you have even more legal obligation to report what you know. Meet with your boss in private and tell him/her what you know. It is the proper thing to do.

shanebat

Depends. If I like the person then I know nothing. If I don't like them then they are screwed. :)

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