Anger, standing and the office

[Anonymous]

The key is you want to work together for the good of your company. The idea of the ethics review is to catch potential issues. Better to find them now than later. Act like a team player and don’t worry so much about how you look. You got approval so it’s not a fault, don’t think of it that way but look at it from the CEO’s point of view and work to move things forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my role I am expected to get an ethics opinion before I propose courses of action. In our ethics office the staff is easy to deal with but the supervisor is difficult. Yesterday I got a favorable ethics opinion and then made my proposal to leadership. This morning the ethics supervisor came back from vacation to object to my proposal.

I have not gotten any reason for the objection or even the courtesy of a meeting to discuss the issue. This leaves me with some egg on my face or as my proposal has to be stayed until this can be cleared up.

If this goes the way I think it will the supervisor will gin up a meaningless concern that will require a superfluous change to my memo (eg “all environmental laws must be followed”)

What should I do about this.

I think nothing? You followed protocol, you got an opinion, I assume in writing, and presented it to your bosses. I assume you presented confirmation of ethics approval. So now if the ethics supervisor wants to raise a stink with yours, that's between them. If anyone would be in "trouble" here it would be the ethics designee who approved your proposal without any notes. I don't think you have egg on your face at all, and if your bosses are reasonable, they know this guy is just the type to come in and want to leave his mark on everything by adding some superfluous nonsense.

I agree that it is not OP's problem. But I disagree that the supervisor may only add "superfluous nonsense." The supervisor may have seen something in the proposal the other attorneys did not. The supervisor should present their conclusions to OP/team, to include why the previous determination was flawed.

That's fair. I was relying on OP's comment that his concern will be something like adding a clause that says you must follow the existing law. If anything the problem here is on the ethics side - either the ethics person approved when they shouldn't have or the ethics supervisor has problems delegating and accepting decisions made when he's on vacation. Neither is OP's problem.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show leadership the signed favorable ethics opinion. It’s not your fault the ethics supervisor can’t handle his own staff.

Agreed, but could also be worth extending a small gift to ethics supervisor as a way to get the conversation started.

Maybe a winter soup package or flight of scones/creams/conserves. Something nice, but low key.

Are you the person who suggested on the post about leaving a job shortly after starting that the OP give their co-workers a pair of air pods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show leadership the signed favorable ethics opinion. It’s not your fault the ethics supervisor can’t handle his own staff.

Agreed, but could also be worth extending a small gift to ethics supervisor as a way to get the conversation started.

Maybe a winter soup package or flight of scones/creams/conserves. Something nice, but low key.

Bribes? But that’s completely and utterly …. never mind

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The specific gift items are not the point. Instead of soups and scones, it could be fresh spices or a (small) selection of gourmet breads, or something else. The idea is to get the conversation underway.

So wait, is this a joke? so you're doubling down on the idea of giving gifts to colleagues to try and get them to change their minds about something? Do you work outside of the home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key is you want to work together for the good of your company. The idea of the ethics review is to catch potential issues. Better to find them now than later. Act like a team player and don’t worry so much about how you look. You got approval so it’s not a fault, don’t think of it that way but look at it from the CEO’s point of view and work to move things forward.

Agree. Either the nitpicky ethics guy is doing his job and catching legitimate issues or he just tries to put his stamp on everything which slows down the business/work and if that's the case, his management should be stepping in. OP, formally ask for an explanation for his department's backtracking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The specific gift items are not the point. Instead of soups and scones, it could be fresh spices or a (small) selection of gourmet breads, or something else. The idea is to get the conversation underway.

I’ve done this before. Chik-fil-a nuggets work best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The specific gift items are not the point. Instead of soups and scones, it could be fresh spices or a (small) selection of gourmet breads, or something else. The idea is to get the conversation underway.

I’ve done this before. Chik-fil-a nuggets work best.

Getting a conversation underway? Definitely mixed drinks.