Thieves in the Workplace (Updated!)

I am really bothered. Anyone who tells me to just "let it go" or says, "Why are you so upset?" is probably condoning of or practicing the very fraudulent behavior I'm so upset about. Frankly, I have a right to feel the way I feel. I don't care what anyone says to try to shut up my feelings. I know I'm not alone, either...unless you're one who advocates thievery in the workplace.

When I say 'theivery', you probably think I'm talking about stealing THINGS from one's place of employement. In this case, I'm not talking about this obvious type of thievery. Let's assume I was. If you were working in a retail store and knew the cashier was taking money from the register every day, would you tell someone? Obviously, tattle-tales are at risk of losing their own jobs. What if the Manager knew and approved of the cashier taking money from the register? Would you tell the Manager's boss? How do you know that one isn't allowing the Manager to allow the cashier to take money from the register? Seems corrupt, doesn't it? AND...what if that Company had to lay you off for lack of funds? (cough, cough)

What's even more appauling is when the Manager and the cashier make it known they are 'Christians', go to church, the whole nine yards. And you have to continue to go to work, watch this happen every day, and not be bothered about it. After all, you have a job, you get a paycheck and so it's to your best advantage to keep your nose in your own business. And what does that get you? You're suddenly 'not a good fit'?

If you're a Department head and supervise managers who supervise employees, I advise you to not only PAY ATTENTION to fraud, waste and abuse, but obtain approval (if you must) to DO SOMETHING about it! So many people are losing jobs because Companies can't afford to keep them. And, it's typically the worker bees that get let go, while those with seniority, no matter what their productivity level, get to stay. While those with seniority, more than not, take their jobs for granted, it's the worker bees that are the ones who really appreciate having a job. Because of this, they easily spot fraud, waste and abuse and would gladly report it, if the politics weren't so threatening. If the worker bees can't trust their own Manager, they probably can't trust reporting anything to higher manangement who SHOULD be PAYING ATTENTION! If it's allowed at the Departmental level, it must be allowed at the higher levels. Worker bees aren't stupid.

Imagine YOU're the worker bee, attending a Company-wide meeting with the President. He tells everyone not to be even one minute late from breaks because the Company would lose x-amount of hours per day in productivity. With the economy the way it is, the President obviously is counting pennies to stay afloat and keep the employees he has. So, your Manager issues a directive to everyone in your Department that eight hours a day is expected.

In spite of this, you see your Manager allow a coworker to come in an hour late and leave an hour early every single day. Add it up. That's 520 hours a year, equivalent to an entire Summer off with pay! At $25-30 p/hour this adds up to thousands paid out by the Company with nothing to show for it. And this doesn't even include the paid sick and vacation days on top of it!

That's bad enough. But, how does this corruption affect the morale of the worker bees that are expected to work a full eight-hour day ~ and not be even one minute late from breaks? Surely, they are not to get upset when the Manager doesn't put in 40 hours a week (got to catch that 'Christian' concert!); nor are they to get upset when favoritism is shown to others without consequence. How can it be that I see the same 'time thief' assign twice the time to a task (making the work-load appear higher than it is), or allow two weeks to go by without accomplishing an hour-long, time-sensitive task? Sure, I understand the "work the job" statute for flexible-schedule employees, but when the job isn't getting done for these reasons, it is flat-out corruption. What's even more sickening, is when I offer to take care of the over-due, critical task and the Manager says, "fyi ~ 10 days is not enough time to complete this task." Sarcasm? This certainly is far from the truth! No "Thank you for catching that. Thank you for your team spirit". Of course not!

This is what I see going on at work. It's dishonesty, theivery and the opposite of integrity ~ the behavior of 'Christians'?! Frankly, I don't have respect for my Manager or those participating in this fraudulent behavior. It's really hard to warm up to people you don't respect. I'm not a fake, and I don't play politics. So, I remain quiet and do absolutely nothing about it, keeping my nose to the grindstone. And yes, I find out that 'I'm not a good fit' so they're letting me go in another month. Was I supposed to join them in this corruption and get enthused about it? In any job, if I was given the opportunity to participate in such activity, I would have a conscience! I happen to be a Christian and I think to myself, "Would God approve?" I work for Him first, and that means doing the right thing, even if it means losing my job and moving on to the next. The best witness is one that doesn't require a word spoken.

THREE WEEKS LATER:

WELL, GUESS WHAT? The corruption in that Department didn't scathe me. God is LORD of even evil that seeks to destroy His children. The Lord took me to Ps 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows." God directed me to apply for another open position in the Company. He lifted up people outside that Department to recommend me, those who recognized my work ethic and dilligence, for they are made of the same cloth. I was led to speak to Human Resources, not to complain (that will 'kill' you), but to say with wisdom, "There are mountains and there are molehills. I just want to be sure my job is not ending due to 'molehills'". Truly, the lack of integrity was evident to many, and I didn't have to say anything more. I was scheduled for an interview and am being received with gladness...right across the hallway from the Department that let me go.

Would you like a little more insight to God's realm? The 'favorite' (time thief) shared with me that she is putting out her resume! She wants to LEAVE. Could this be the underlying reason for her behavior? Where will the Manager be without her? That Manager lost me, due to a corrupt, emotional decision...what will happen in the future? There are only two left ~ one has a second job that will impact her decision to accept permanent employment with the Company; the other desperately wants to leave. Is the Manager clueless? I just watch with spiritual eyes.

In this corporate world, people are 'trained' to just let corruption happen. Try to ignore it. Try to feel happy at work. Pretend to be a part of a great team. Worst of all, compromise their good values to conform to the corruption of their peers, in order to keep the job. WE DON'T HAVE TO! Choose a higher road!! There's a saying out there to this effect: "Don't let the world change you; you can change the world." If this hub might help Managers realize how this type of favoritism and behavior affects their 'team' and may ultimately come back to bite them severely ~ or, if this encourages Company executives to pay attention to fraud, waste and abuse, I've accomplished something. Seek to rescue those worker bees in questionable Departments. Be Watchmen for the good of your Company ~ then you will also be lifted up.