Ethics question-work related

[Anonymous]

Would like some feedback on this issue:
I am a professional, currently working in a job where our productivity is constantly being measured and monitored.
A colleague of mine divulged a plan to me that she feels she can use to "make her numbers look good".
No actual fraud or dishonesty is involved, just "gaming the system".
The behavior could potentially cause increased frustration amongst clients and co-workers.
I was shocked when she mentioned this to me, and she said (jokingly or not?) , "If you tell anyone , I will deny it."
She states she feels others already do this.
I know I will not use her tactics/techniques.
I don't think I owe my employer any sort of heads up about this, I am not a tattle-tale.
But I feel so uncomfortable that she told me this!
Should I just keep quiet and do my job? Should I tell her this is not a good idea?
All I told her was "It's really sad that you feel you would need to do that."
Any advice appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Everyone always wants to "shoot the messagenger". I would keep this to myself.

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds naive but I've been around long enough to see this happen time and time again: what goes around comes around or whatever you want to call it - it usually does in one way or the other.

Your co-worker is compensating for something. I would just keep my head down and keep ploughing through. It's weird that she told you. My guess is that there is some guilt or something going on, and she wants maybe to give you the idea so you will do it, and if everyone is caught it will minimize the impact on her? I would steer clear.

[Anonymous]

If someone mentioned this to me, I might bring it up to my boss. Not as in X said she is going to start doing Y. But rather, hey boss, I was wondering if anyone does Y around here. It seems like it would help your numbers but would piss off clients and co-workers. Do you know if this is done around here?

If you don't feel like you have a good enough relationship with your boss to ask about it, then I wouldn't say anything though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If someone mentioned this to me, I might bring it up to my boss. Not as in X said she is going to start doing Y. But rather, hey boss, I was wondering if anyone does Y around here. It seems like it would help your numbers but would piss off clients and co-workers. Do you know if this is done around here?

If you don't feel like you have a good enough relationship with your boss to ask about it, then I wouldn't say anything though.

If OP doesnt want to do it bc she knows its "wrong", what would be the purpose of nbringing it up to her boss? OP, just let your co-worker do what she wants, why does it matter to you?

I also work somewhere that we are measured by our productivity. there is a supervisor who constantly games the system. We all know it and no one wants to work for her. It makes her look lazy and incompetent. However, it doesnt affect my performance or my job, so I dont care. If and when I get assigned to her, I may speak up but otherwise, whats the point?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Management reaps what it sews. If it was treating people with respect, it would get it in return.

[Anonymous]

Are you guys contraact attorneys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would like some feedback on this issue:
I am a professional, currently working in a job where our productivity is constantly being measured and monitored.
A colleague of mine divulged a plan to me that she feels she can use to "make her numbers look good".
No actual fraud or dishonesty is involved, just "gaming the system".
The behavior could potentially cause increased frustration amongst clients and co-workers.
I was shocked when she mentioned this to me, and she said (jokingly or not?) , "If you tell anyone , I will deny it."
She states she feels others already do this.
I know I will not use her tactics/techniques.
I don't think I owe my employer any sort of heads up about this, I am not a tattle-tale.
But I feel so uncomfortable that she told me this!
Should I just keep quiet and do my job? Should I tell her this is not a good idea?
All I told her was "It's really sad that you feel you would need to do that."
Any advice appreciated!

You're caught between the devil and deep blue sea and a rock and a hard place. If you are doing nothing that you consider unethical then I guess I would keep my mouth shut. It it iher choice and for every choice there is a consequence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this sounds naive but I've been around long enough to see this happen time and time again: what goes around comes around or whatever you want to call it - it usually does in one way or the other.

Your co-worker is compensating for something. I would just keep my head down and keep ploughing through. It's weird that she told you. My guess is that there is some guilt or something going on, and she wants maybe to give you the idea so you will do it, and if everyone is caught it will minimize the impact on her? I would steer clear.

Well I have been around longer and actually sometimes it doesn't come around. And really everyone has figured it out and does it and the only way to stay in the game so to speak is to do the same. Really, it sucks but I have seen the old adage "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" pan out far more times then "what comes around goes around"

The co-worker is likely fed up and just doesn't want to have to keep plugging along tirelessly while knowing that have the office isn't and its of no consequence.

[Anonymous]

I hear ya. We've got one like that. Extremely creative when it comes to gaming the system and doing things that are right on the edge of being questionable, unethical and not to mention fraudulent. It's tempting to follow along since "everybody's doing it" and "let's stick it to the Man since you know He doesn't care about us and would screw us over in a second if He could." But just because everyone else is doing it doesn't make it right. You don't agree with it so don't let your co-worker influence your behavior. Even if whatever is going on isn't discovered, you are still accountable to yourself. So let her do what she likes and you keep on on the straight and narrow. She will eventually find herself amongst her own kind some day. It's hard but keep on keeping on and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Is there an anonymous ethics line you can call at work?

[Anonymous]

Just keep your head down. If it's not illegal and the person will not receive any extra pay or bonus, I'd keep my head down and leave it alone.

However, if there is any level of embezzlement involved, I'd tell the person that you think it is a bad idea.

The person should not have put you in this uncomfortable position of forcing you to keep their secret. That was not fair, but it's difficult to rat out a friend. However, if the person gains anything more than temporary job security from this numbers game, then you are compelled to make a report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just keep your head down. If it's not illegal and the person will not receive any extra pay or bonus, I'd keep my head down and leave it alone.

However, if there is any level of embezzlement involved, I'd tell the person that you think it is a bad idea.

The person should not have put you in this uncomfortable position of forcing you to keep their secret. That was not fair, but it's difficult to rat out a friend. However, if the person gains anything more than temporary job security from this numbers game, then you are compelled to make a report.

If there is a question of a felony, then, yes, I would find a way to report her activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Management reaps what it sews. If it was treating people with respect, it would get it in return.

Are you actually saying that every time an employee tries to cheat their employer, it's the fault of the employer? What led you to believe the employees are not being treated with respect?

[Anonymous]

OP stay out of it, since it could backfire on you.
Just avoid her from now on.