major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for advice
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major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for advice - 10/27/2008 6:43:12 PM
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nightandday
Posts: 3
Joined: 10/27/2008
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Hello. I am posting this in hopes that I might gain some insight from the collective forum with regards to an issue I am potentially facing at work.
I work for a company that has a fleet of trucks. Up until recently, I was responsible for one of the trucks, meaning, I drove it everyday, kept personal belongings in it, etc. About 2-3 weeks ago, I was put in another position within the company. I no longer drive my former truck exclusively; it has, to my knowledge, been driven by several other employees over the last few weeks while I am occupied with my new duties.
However, I drove my old truck today to a job and also to pick up some supplies from a builder. When I got back to our offices at the end of the day, I noticed something behind the passenger seat as I was looking around for some papers. At first, it looked like the head of a golf club. I reached my hand behind the passenger seat and pulled out a silver flask. I had never seen it before. I looked at it for a few minutes and wondered what I should do. I removed the cap and smelled it, and it smelled like some kind of alcoholic drink was inside. There was a little fluid left in the flask. I put it back behind the seat and began to wonder what I should do.
I have no way of telling who left it there. Right now, my mind is filled with every possible scenario. We have recently had lay-offs within the company, and times are pretty tough these days. I have been promoted, so to speak, within the company in the wake of the most recent layoffs. I began to wonder if the flask was a "plant", put there by another employee to frame me. Most people at my job know that I do not drink. I have not drank liquor or any intoxicating alcohol beverages in over 6 years (Thank God!) - But - in the past I was a heavy drinker. Again, most people at my work know about this.
I began to wonder about the implications of me turning the flask in or reporting it. Again, I have no idea who could have left it there. Since they are company trucks, and people drive them occaisionally on weekends, I have no way to know for sure who could have left it there or how long it has been there.
If I leave it and say nothing, someone else will eventually find it, possibly implicating me in the situation. If it was left there accidentally by an employee, and they retrieve it on their own, then the company will not be alerted to a possible situation where an employee might be drinking and driving.
Part of what complicates the issue further, is that I now know it is there and have confirmed to the best of my ability that there is/was alcohol in it. I found it at the end of the day when everyone was leaving, did not know what to do, so I left it.
I figure that something must be done, but legally speaking, I have no proof as to who's it is. If someone left it there to get me in trouble and I bring it in, and no one else admits to leaving it there, I still feel that I will be looked at in a bad light due to my association with it in the first place.
If anyone could shed light or offer advice, I would appreciate it. Thanks, God bless -
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/27/2008 6:48:50 PM
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MrFribbles
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Joined: 1/29/2007
From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
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My gut reaction is report it to whoever is above you. Let them know that you found it, you have no idea who's it is, and you don't even know for certain what's in it. I think that, by being the person who turned it in, you will remove suspicion from your name, and by honestly saying you have no idea who it belongs to, removes the possibility of being a "tattle-tale." Whoever left it there messed up in a serious way. They weren't just potentially wrecking their own job, they could have easily caused a great deal of harm to someone else. So if they get caught, they'll be getting whatever they deserve. But that's out of your hands. All you're responsible for is reporting the issue.
That's my take. : )
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/27/2008 11:29:28 PM
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Johnny_
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Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
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I don't think your situation is a matter of job security. With that said, I still believe it is good for you to report what you've found to the person above you. I think this is the right thing to do. You can always request to have your name kept anonymous. 
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/27/2008 11:34:17 PM
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crankius
Posts: 4505
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I asked my husband, who is a boss and has a truck used specifically by employees, and he said he definitely would want to be told.
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Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 8:15:43 AM
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timf
Posts: 458
Joined: 10/20/2006
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major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for advice
Give the flask to your boss and tell him what truck you found it in. It then becomes his problem.
He may decide to handle it as a lost and found problem. He may decide to call all the drivers and warn them about no drinking on the job. He may do nothing. It might even be his flask.
If somebody hates you enough to go to that much trouble to "set you up", they will eventually find a way to get you. It is more likely that based on where it was found that it fell out of the back pocket of a passenger who may not have been an employee at all.
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 9:11:30 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 5800
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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Mr. Fribbles has it correct; report the location of the flask to your immediate supervisor and then forget about it.
That is a serious infranction, if you had gotten stopped by law enforcement or your truck inspected by an insurance carreir, etc. you could have well lost your job. And trying to explain that you did not know it was there would be futile.
Check whatever truck you are goiing to drive, before you leave the yard so as to stay out of trouble.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 4:54:06 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3408
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
Mr. Fribbles has it correct; report the location of the flask to your immediate supervisor and then forget about it.
That is a serious infranction, if you had gotten stopped by law enforcement or your truck inspected by an insurance carreir, etc. you could have well lost your job. And trying to explain that you did not know it was there would be futile.
Check whatever truck you are goiing to drive, before you leave the yard so as to stay out of trouble.
Thanks
RC
I would also make a dated, timed note of seeing it and reporting it.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 5:40:46 PM
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JimC
Posts: 1189
Joined: 6/17/2006
From: Kennesaw, GA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
Give the flask to your boss and tell him what truck you found it in. It then becomes his problem.
Absolutely!!!!
You're covering your "six", taking care of your boss, but you're not dropping a dime on anybody in particular.
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Semper Fidelis - that says it all!
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 7:58:32 PM
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Qtman
Posts: 9446
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From: Crimson Tide Country
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FWIW I agree with the rest. You need to get the flask out of the truck and into the hands of your supervisor. This should keep you clear of implications plus protect your company and even you should you be stopped driving the truck or another co-worker that is stopped.
_____________________________
STRESS = The internal struggle created when the brain trys to over ride the heart's desire to tell off some jerk that really deserves to be told off.
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/28/2008 11:21:22 PM
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Kerrlaw
Posts: 8929
Joined: 5/24/2006
From: Big Orange Country
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This must be a record. Ten posts and everyone agrees.
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Coffee sinners lovers click here.
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/29/2008 5:39:43 AM
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Giggles56
Posts: 155
Joined: 8/12/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Kerrlaw
This must be a record. Ten posts and everyone agrees.
Make that eleven!!
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If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours!!
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 10/29/2008 10:25:32 AM
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car2ner
Posts: 3028
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: just north of Florida
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12! nothing can be dealt with properly if facts are hidden.
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"May your days be long and your hardships few".
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 11/1/2008 5:42:31 PM
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redeemedsaint
Posts: 496
Joined: 12/5/2005
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Tell the boss what you found and you can remain anonymous.
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Woody
Get off the track cause the freight train is coming - Coach Bobby Lee Duke from Facing the Giants
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RE: major moral/ethical situation at work - looking for... - 11/3/2008 6:37:22 PM
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nightandday
Posts: 3
Joined: 10/27/2008
Status: offline
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UPDATE:
Thanks to all who responded.
Here is what has happened. A few hours after I posted this thread (on the same night I found the flask) I called my supervisor at his house and told him everything that happened, what I found and what I did with it. He thanked me for letting him know, and told me that he would get the flask out of the truck first thing the following morning.
I haven't been in the truck since, and I haven't heard anything more since and I have not asked.
I hope that closes the loop on this whole thing.
Thanks again and God bless you all -
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