Willing to Risk My Job
June 9, 2010 9:12 AM Subscribe
What resources are available for someone who wants to know how to blow a whistle at their workplace?
An associate at my office is costing our company a large amount of resources -- I believe the situation is unethical, and it is certainly demoralizing to fellow associates as we all know about it. No one is willing to blow the whistle, so I am going to do it myself.
Since I am risking a lot (my job?), I want my effort to be as dignified and effective as possible.
Can anyone recommend a book? A web resource? Can someone offer their personal knowledge? I am willing to pay someone for their advice.
Thank you.
An associate at my office is costing our company a large amount of resources -- I believe the situation is unethical, and it is certainly demoralizing to fellow associates as we all know about it. No one is willing to blow the whistle, so I am going to do it myself.
Since I am risking a lot (my job?), I want my effort to be as dignified and effective as possible.
Can anyone recommend a book? A web resource? Can someone offer their personal knowledge? I am willing to pay someone for their advice.
Thank you.
Whistle blower implies exposing wrong-doing by a company that is damaging to the public. What you described is wrong-doing by an individual that is damaging to a company. If that is the case, exposing it should not open you to retribution from the company. In many companies it is likely you signed something that said you are obligated to report such activity if you become aware of it.
posted by Babblesort at 9:22 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by Babblesort at 9:22 AM on June 9, 2010
You might want to ask a moderator to make this anonymous.
posted by fixedgear at 9:26 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by fixedgear at 9:26 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: I should divulge more, I suppose.
A certain analyst at my company is getting special treatment to the extent of only having to work 40% of her work day. For the past eight years she has been allowed to leave at 2 pm in the afternoon because once upon a time she had to pick up her daughter from school in the afternoon.
She is a favorite of one of our consultants, so her job is completely protected because he wants her here. That's fine. But there are three other analysts in our company, and they are suffering under a very large workload. We are having to discuss hiring another analyst because one of our analysts is having an extended medical leave of absence, and the favored analyst gets to leave at 2 pm every day.
I am not an analyst, I am a secretary. The bottom of the rung here.
As I have recently been considering a career move I am ready to leave my job if it comes to that.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:31 AM on June 9, 2010
A certain analyst at my company is getting special treatment to the extent of only having to work 40% of her work day. For the past eight years she has been allowed to leave at 2 pm in the afternoon because once upon a time she had to pick up her daughter from school in the afternoon.
She is a favorite of one of our consultants, so her job is completely protected because he wants her here. That's fine. But there are three other analysts in our company, and they are suffering under a very large workload. We are having to discuss hiring another analyst because one of our analysts is having an extended medical leave of absence, and the favored analyst gets to leave at 2 pm every day.
I am not an analyst, I am a secretary. The bottom of the rung here.
As I have recently been considering a career move I am ready to leave my job if it comes to that.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:31 AM on June 9, 2010
This runs the risk of making you look like you just have a serious case of sour grapes.
posted by availablelight at 9:36 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by availablelight at 9:36 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
She is a favorite of one of our consultants, so her job is completely protected because he wants her here.
Well that's that then. If she's been doing this for eight years, it's not like a big secret is it? Everyone negotiates for the compensation and work conditions they can get.
Not your business, leave it alone.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2010 [7 favorites]
Well that's that then. If she's been doing this for eight years, it's not like a big secret is it? Everyone negotiates for the compensation and work conditions they can get.
Not your business, leave it alone.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2010 [7 favorites]
Response by poster: Sure it does. I still think it is unethical, and it bothers everyone.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:38 AM on June 9, 2010
This has nothing to do with whistle-blowing, misuse of resources, or anything remotely like that. Pure and simple sour grapes.
posted by fixedgear at 9:48 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by fixedgear at 9:48 AM on June 9, 2010
Do you know for a fact that the "favored analyst" is not working from home during the evenings and weekends? Just because you don't see her in the office doesn't mean she isn't contributing.
posted by shiny blue object at 9:52 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by shiny blue object at 9:52 AM on June 9, 2010
Or, do you know for a fact that she's not getting paid for 40% time?
posted by brainmouse at 9:55 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by brainmouse at 9:55 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: Yes, I know for a fact.
She has never accessed our network remotely and she cannot do any work from home otherwise.
Of course it's not a misuse of resources. I'm just jealous that she can shirk her job when everyone else is struggling and we're needing to hire more people to fill in the gaps. Wish that could be me.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:56 AM on June 9, 2010
She has never accessed our network remotely and she cannot do any work from home otherwise.
Of course it's not a misuse of resources. I'm just jealous that she can shirk her job when everyone else is struggling and we're needing to hire more people to fill in the gaps. Wish that could be me.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:56 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: Yes, I also know for a fact that she is getting paid for working full time.
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:57 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 9:57 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: It is collective office opinion that she is the worst at her job, the most careless and the laziest. She complains the most. She gets paid lunches on the office credit card. She calls in work sick very often. All that is great and I don't care -- it does not affect me at all. Some of our analysts stay until 2 am getting work done, however. Maybe it's none of my business, but our company is employee owned. I have as much stock on this company as anyone, I'm a shareholder. This is a problem.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:02 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:02 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
There is someone in my office who gets AMAZING preferential treatment, wildly beyond anything I could imagine requesting or receiving. This person is also terrible at their job. It bothers me, but it's not a whistle-blowing situation. I'm sorry, but you need to set this aside and move on.
posted by kate blank at 10:12 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kate blank at 10:12 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I thought "whistle-blowing" is a metaphor meaning "to raise attention to a matter." If it's a highly specific, technical HR term, okay, "squeaky wheeling," whatever.
At some point people are not going to be allowed to receive special office favors in full view of everyone else.
I'm not moving on, but thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:17 AM on June 9, 2010
At some point people are not going to be allowed to receive special office favors in full view of everyone else.
I'm not moving on, but thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:17 AM on June 9, 2010
I'm a shareholder. This is a problem.
Are there shareholder meetings?
posted by soelo at 10:20 AM on June 9, 2010
Are there shareholder meetings?
posted by soelo at 10:20 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: Our human resources manager has asked that each of our employees, as shareholders, give her any ideas on how we can improve productivity in our office.
So, my opinion has been solicited.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:23 AM on June 9, 2010
So, my opinion has been solicited.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:23 AM on June 9, 2010
a) This is not whistle blowing and b) How do you know what kind of arrangement she's worked out with her bosses? People work out their compensation packages with their employers, not their coworkers, and it is rightfully none of your business.
posted by crankylex at 10:31 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by crankylex at 10:31 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: If you think it is none of my business, that's fine. Other people think so, too. I, however, disagree. But thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:35 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:35 AM on June 9, 2010
Best answer: Since your opinion has been solicited, perhaps you can reply to your HR manager and say something like,
"I notice that a lot of our analysts are overworked -- to the point that we're considering hiring more analysts. But it also appears that, of the analysts, X is not overworked. I suspect this may be due to the flex-time schedule she's been working for so many years -- and that may be a sign that the flex-time arrangement is no longer working as well as it should. Of course, there may be elements to her arrangement that I am not aware of, but the situation does concern me, particularly since you've asked each of us to propose ways the company can increase productivity/efficiency/profits/savings."
Be prepared to have HR ask you how X's "flex-time" schedule actually affects you (other than its effect on you as a shareholder).
Also, if the situation is widely known in the company, HR probably already knows about this and may have already been told by the powers that be that X is just going to get to keep doing what she's doing. Be prepared to have HR tell you that X's situation is really none of your business and that that's not the kind of suggestion they're looking for.
posted by devinemissk at 10:36 AM on June 9, 2010 [5 favorites]
"I notice that a lot of our analysts are overworked -- to the point that we're considering hiring more analysts. But it also appears that, of the analysts, X is not overworked. I suspect this may be due to the flex-time schedule she's been working for so many years -- and that may be a sign that the flex-time arrangement is no longer working as well as it should. Of course, there may be elements to her arrangement that I am not aware of, but the situation does concern me, particularly since you've asked each of us to propose ways the company can increase productivity/efficiency/profits/savings."
Be prepared to have HR ask you how X's "flex-time" schedule actually affects you (other than its effect on you as a shareholder).
Also, if the situation is widely known in the company, HR probably already knows about this and may have already been told by the powers that be that X is just going to get to keep doing what she's doing. Be prepared to have HR tell you that X's situation is really none of your business and that that's not the kind of suggestion they're looking for.
posted by devinemissk at 10:36 AM on June 9, 2010 [5 favorites]
Also:
At some point people are not going to be allowed to receive special office favors in full view of everyone else.
This is simply not true. This happens in every workplace. When it is condoned by higher-ups, it absolutely can continue indefinitely.
posted by devinemissk at 10:38 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
At some point people are not going to be allowed to receive special office favors in full view of everyone else.
This is simply not true. This happens in every workplace. When it is condoned by higher-ups, it absolutely can continue indefinitely.
posted by devinemissk at 10:38 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Favoritism, prejudice and bias happen everywhere, you're right. Let's do everything we can to not change this, in our own interests.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:41 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:41 AM on June 9, 2010
Maybe it's bad for the company and wasteful. Maybe that person working there insures the corporation a sweet contract with her cousin's firm which allows the company to make 100x as much in profit as her salary costs them. Doesn't matter.
If you want to have input on this kind of thing you should become the boss. You want to insure every decision is made to your exact liking then you need to become the top boss.
Till then, grit your teeth or leave.
posted by phearlez at 10:43 AM on June 9, 2010
If you want to have input on this kind of thing you should become the boss. You want to insure every decision is made to your exact liking then you need to become the top boss.
Till then, grit your teeth or leave.
posted by phearlez at 10:43 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: In that case, your advice is the kind of readily available, anyone-can-think-of-it, pure common sense logic that has a way of elluding people, anyway. Thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:43 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:43 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: Phealez -- I disagree with this situation in a matter of ethics. If you personally (or anyone else) don't think the sitaution is unethical, that is fine. We disagree.
Otherwise, I am not going to agree that this is a private matter of no concern of mine.
I am pretty sure that I made clear that I realized what risks I am taking in this matter. I am not asking for opinion as to whether or not this is a good idea for my career.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:47 AM on June 9, 2010
Otherwise, I am not going to agree that this is a private matter of no concern of mine.
I am pretty sure that I made clear that I realized what risks I am taking in this matter. I am not asking for opinion as to whether or not this is a good idea for my career.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:47 AM on June 9, 2010
Okay, so you Strike A Blow For Righteousness and tell HR exactly what you think of the situation. And then HR tells you your coworkers' compensation packages are none of your concern. Then what? I just don't think this is going to have the outcome you're looking for.
posted by crankylex at 10:50 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by crankylex at 10:50 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I don't know what kind of outcome you believe I am looking for. I think the situation is unethical, and I am going to say something. That's it.
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:54 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 10:54 AM on June 9, 2010
devinemissk's advice is a good answer to the question it turns out you actually have. i.e. help me write a professional sounding critique of what I perceive to be inequitable compensation at my work.
I think you would do well to hear the overwhelming tone of responses here though. Inequitable does not automatically equate with unethical. You haven't provided any reasons to believe that the situation here is unethical. It may not be fair but that isn't the same as ethical. Your initial framing of this suggested you would be exposing a wrong doing that was unknown to the higher ups. With the rest of the information you supplied it seems apparent that the higher ups are aware of the situation and either tacitly or explicitly condone it.
posted by Babblesort at 11:02 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think you would do well to hear the overwhelming tone of responses here though. Inequitable does not automatically equate with unethical. You haven't provided any reasons to believe that the situation here is unethical. It may not be fair but that isn't the same as ethical. Your initial framing of this suggested you would be exposing a wrong doing that was unknown to the higher ups. With the rest of the information you supplied it seems apparent that the higher ups are aware of the situation and either tacitly or explicitly condone it.
posted by Babblesort at 11:02 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm a contextual relativist, so I don't say that the situation is unethical by definition. I say it is unethical because it looks and smells, to me, like an unfair bias that is costing our company money.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:07 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:07 AM on June 9, 2010
Any action you might take with regard to this situation involves non-negligible risk for slim reward. You should take no action.
posted by Kwine at 11:12 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by Kwine at 11:12 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: I did not intentionally suggest that I am exposing a wrong doing that was unknown to the higher ups. "Whistle-blowing" seems like adequate term to me, but if that description does not fit the dictionary, okay. I came up with another term for it.
Strictly speaking, it not unethical to give people preference based on race, religion, or age is it?
"Oh but that is much, much different than individual favoritism."
Okay, whatever. Thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:16 AM on June 9, 2010
Strictly speaking, it not unethical to give people preference based on race, religion, or age is it?
"Oh but that is much, much different than individual favoritism."
Okay, whatever. Thanks.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:16 AM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: I realize most everyone here thinks I should take no action. I heard all of you. I disagree.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:19 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:19 AM on June 9, 2010
I know that you've made up your mind, but please take the advice of a former HR manager and non-HR manager:
Don't do this.
Ms. Leave-Early's boss knows that she leaves early. The boss also knows that he rest of you think it sucks. Trust me. If you bring this up, no matter how couched in "efficiency" or "fairness" you try to make it, it will come off as a personal issue between the two of you, especially when everyone else in the office gets asked what they think about it, and they all shrug and abandon the fight, which they will do because what's the upside? Three more hours a day of "the most careless and the laziest" employee being careless and lazy and complaining? Hell, you probably all get more productive after 2:00 because she's gone.
Yep, she's skating. Sometimes that happens. Just smile to yourself and think about what happens when her patron dies on the golf course, and suddenly she's out in the cold by herself.
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on June 9, 2010 [5 favorites]
Don't do this.
Ms. Leave-Early's boss knows that she leaves early. The boss also knows that he rest of you think it sucks. Trust me. If you bring this up, no matter how couched in "efficiency" or "fairness" you try to make it, it will come off as a personal issue between the two of you, especially when everyone else in the office gets asked what they think about it, and they all shrug and abandon the fight, which they will do because what's the upside? Three more hours a day of "the most careless and the laziest" employee being careless and lazy and complaining? Hell, you probably all get more productive after 2:00 because she's gone.
Yep, she's skating. Sometimes that happens. Just smile to yourself and think about what happens when her patron dies on the golf course, and suddenly she's out in the cold by herself.
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on June 9, 2010 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: It's a pleasant thought, but no, our analysts don't get more work done because she goes home every day at 2 pm. They suffer.
I am leaving this company to go back to school. I don't need this job for future references.
I want to raise awareness of this issue because I think it is wrong, it is costing people other than me a great amount of work.
I know unfair stuff like this happens. But I want to take the opportunity to voice my opinion against this situation.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:38 AM on June 9, 2010
I am leaving this company to go back to school. I don't need this job for future references.
I want to raise awareness of this issue because I think it is wrong, it is costing people other than me a great amount of work.
I know unfair stuff like this happens. But I want to take the opportunity to voice my opinion against this situation.
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:38 AM on June 9, 2010
Best answer: Well, since you're leaving the company and don't care if you're fired or can't get a reference, sure, why not go for it -- you have nothing to lose, and probably nothing to gain, either. You're not an analyst, so it's not sour grapes that someone doing the same job as you has a sweeter deal. Possibly not everyone knows that she doesn't work at home, or that the other analysts are so overworked. Devinemssk has a good basic script.
posted by jeather at 11:42 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jeather at 11:42 AM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: jeather -- She does, doesn't she? I agree. Thanks. :)
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:43 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by alice_curiouse at 11:43 AM on June 9, 2010
You won't be helping your coworkers by doing this: if your comments have any effect, it will be to make it look like your colleagues spend too much time gossiping and whining about this one analyst.
posted by Meg_Murry at 11:51 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Meg_Murry at 11:51 AM on June 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
What's actually happening here is that you have a colleague who is being paid more per hour of work than you and your other colleagues. She works half the time you do for comparable pay. The reason that she gets paid more than you per hour of work is that she has a skill the company needs that you don't have: the ability to keep an important consultant happy. It doesn't much matter how she maintains that skill; the point is that she brings something to the company that you don't, so she's worth more money to the company than you are. I'm sorry that you and your colleagues find it demoralizing to have a coworker who makes more money than you do, but her job is different from yours. Your job is to perform your tasks. Her job is to perform her tasks and to keep the important consultant happy. She gets paid more because she brings more to the company.
If your goal here is to let management know that you are unhappy in your job, you can accomplish that in the way that devinemissk and others have suggested. However, be prepared for your coworkers to be unhappy with you for rocking the boat. Even though they complain to you, the fact that they haven't raised this with the bosses means that they've made a calculation that it's better for them to let the situation be, as it is. You are not doing them a favor by disturbing things. You may be making their jobs more difficult by inviting retribution from your colleague or bosses. You may not care about that, since you're leaving, but I hope that you'll take your coworkers' situations into account before stirring things up.
(just as a point of community norms, it's frowned upon to respond to each answer in your thread and to debate with those who answer your question. Confronting other posters makes it less likely that you'll get good answers to your question. You may want to take a break from posting in this thread to give others the chance to answer. It's also not a community where we pay for answers.)
posted by decathecting at 12:03 PM on June 9, 2010 [9 favorites]
If your goal here is to let management know that you are unhappy in your job, you can accomplish that in the way that devinemissk and others have suggested. However, be prepared for your coworkers to be unhappy with you for rocking the boat. Even though they complain to you, the fact that they haven't raised this with the bosses means that they've made a calculation that it's better for them to let the situation be, as it is. You are not doing them a favor by disturbing things. You may be making their jobs more difficult by inviting retribution from your colleague or bosses. You may not care about that, since you're leaving, but I hope that you'll take your coworkers' situations into account before stirring things up.
(just as a point of community norms, it's frowned upon to respond to each answer in your thread and to debate with those who answer your question. Confronting other posters makes it less likely that you'll get good answers to your question. You may want to take a break from posting in this thread to give others the chance to answer. It's also not a community where we pay for answers.)
posted by decathecting at 12:03 PM on June 9, 2010 [9 favorites]
Best answer: And Meg_Murray also has a point: make it clear that no one has asked you to do this, that you haven't been gossiping/complaining or overhearing it from the analysts. It would be useful to know how this affects the company more directly: how does it make your work harder, and what can you see about it making other people's work harder? Do you need another full time person, given this woman's half day, or do you only need a part time person? There are details lacking, and some of the answers will change how you approach HR,
posted by jeather at 12:07 PM on June 9, 2010
posted by jeather at 12:07 PM on June 9, 2010
Mod note: few comments removed - OP it is NOT OKAY to solicit answers with offers of payment and you are overmoderating this thread somewhat. Please let people answer. If you don't like the answers you are getting you don't have to take anyone's advice.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:28 PM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:28 PM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Unsigned, typewritten note in the company president's mailbox.
"Person X seems to be leaving every day at 2pm. This is affecting morale. If this is part of her compensation package, great, but it would be good if her coworkers were told that this is part of her deal so they don't think she is slacking off."
Problem solved. Management knows what the deal is, and they will fix it if they are inclined to do so.
posted by gjc at 12:32 PM on June 9, 2010
"Person X seems to be leaving every day at 2pm. This is affecting morale. If this is part of her compensation package, great, but it would be good if her coworkers were told that this is part of her deal so they don't think she is slacking off."
Problem solved. Management knows what the deal is, and they will fix it if they are inclined to do so.
posted by gjc at 12:32 PM on June 9, 2010
A friend of mine complained about for a problem that didn't affect him directly but he felt like it was something he should say to make things more fair for other people. This person got fired. The new situation was much worse. Every body blamed my friend for it. Not to his face mind you, because they didn't even know he was the reason it happened.
But when it came time to complain about the new way, when everyone else got to wistfully say they didn't know how lucky they had it back in the day, whereas my friend had to think about how it was pretty much his fault and in his sense of honor and fairness had ended up costing another human being a job that, for all his faults, he had been pretty good at, if not the "most efficient solution."
Do something drastic if you like, but remember that actions often have unintended consequences, and even as a shareholder, your idea of where the resources might be best spent might be best to the people who you pay to do that.
Good luck.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:29 PM on June 9, 2010
But when it came time to complain about the new way, when everyone else got to wistfully say they didn't know how lucky they had it back in the day, whereas my friend had to think about how it was pretty much his fault and in his sense of honor and fairness had ended up costing another human being a job that, for all his faults, he had been pretty good at, if not the "most efficient solution."
Do something drastic if you like, but remember that actions often have unintended consequences, and even as a shareholder, your idea of where the resources might be best spent might be best to the people who you pay to do that.
Good luck.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:29 PM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: "Your job is to perform your tasks. Her job is to perform her tasks and to keep the important consultant happy. She gets paid more because she brings more to the company."
My argument is, nay, that based on "the way things have been done" this associate brings more perceived value to the company. People also used to drink alcohol during the work day, that doesn't mean that the privledge used to increase capital production.
I don't believe, however, that her individual lack of contribution to the company outweighs the gap in productivity that is being created by multiple individuals feeling that their hard work contribution to the company is less valuable per hour than the simple existance of a favored employee.
One can feel "bad" that my co-workers feels this way, or one can explore the mechanics of capital productivity in light of social, psycological factors.
Let's break it down mathematically. Does anyone know how to do that?
posted by alice_curiouse at 2:01 PM on June 9, 2010
My argument is, nay, that based on "the way things have been done" this associate brings more perceived value to the company. People also used to drink alcohol during the work day, that doesn't mean that the privledge used to increase capital production.
I don't believe, however, that her individual lack of contribution to the company outweighs the gap in productivity that is being created by multiple individuals feeling that their hard work contribution to the company is less valuable per hour than the simple existance of a favored employee.
One can feel "bad" that my co-workers feels this way, or one can explore the mechanics of capital productivity in light of social, psycological factors.
Let's break it down mathematically. Does anyone know how to do that?
posted by alice_curiouse at 2:01 PM on June 9, 2010
Response by poster: Oops, I mean that I don't believe that her individual "contribution" to the output of her superior outweighs the gap in productivity that is being created by her lack of contribution to the company per manhour, in addition to the gap in output that is created by multiple individuals feeling that their hard work and contribution to the company is less valuable per hour than the simple existance of a favored employee.
I think that's what I mean.
posted by alice_curiouse at 2:09 PM on June 9, 2010
I think that's what I mean.
posted by alice_curiouse at 2:09 PM on June 9, 2010
OK, so now you're saying that you want to tell the higher-ups at your company that your coworkers are angry about a perceived inequity in salary, and that the perceived inequity is lowering those coworkers' output? In that case, you'd basically be telling your bosses that all of your coworkers except for the one who gets paid more are not working as hard as they could be because they're miffed. You'd be ratting out the folks you perceive as the injured parties, getting them in trouble and potentially putting their jobs in jeopardy.
It seems as though you want to take some sort of action because you think it would make you feel better. And that's fine. Just don't pretend that you're doing it to help your coworkers or the company, because lots of people have given you good reasons to believe that it won't help anyone, and could possibly hurt them. You're doing this for selfish reasons, because you're mad and think that speaking up will make you less mad. Couching it in language about ethics and fairness and "mechanics of capital productivity" (whatever that means) doesn't make it a noble cause. It's still about you and your feelings.
posted by decathecting at 3:01 PM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
It seems as though you want to take some sort of action because you think it would make you feel better. And that's fine. Just don't pretend that you're doing it to help your coworkers or the company, because lots of people have given you good reasons to believe that it won't help anyone, and could possibly hurt them. You're doing this for selfish reasons, because you're mad and think that speaking up will make you less mad. Couching it in language about ethics and fairness and "mechanics of capital productivity" (whatever that means) doesn't make it a noble cause. It's still about you and your feelings.
posted by decathecting at 3:01 PM on June 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Mod note: A few more comments removed. The question at the top of this, about what resources/methods are available for communicating a problem to the company, is answerable and there's been some answers, and that's fine. But this is not the place for an extended argument about or defense of the motivation/reasoning/ethics/etc of the overall situation.
alice_curiouse, you got some decent answers here, I hope they're helpful to you, but you've commented/steered the conversation here way, way too much and need to pretty much let this one sit. Please stop trying to argue with the people answering your question.
Everybody else, if you've got some new constructive suggestion for how she can make this work, great, otherwise go ahead and give it a miss as well.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:57 PM on June 9, 2010
alice_curiouse, you got some decent answers here, I hope they're helpful to you, but you've commented/steered the conversation here way, way too much and need to pretty much let this one sit. Please stop trying to argue with the people answering your question.
Everybody else, if you've got some new constructive suggestion for how she can make this work, great, otherwise go ahead and give it a miss as well.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:57 PM on June 9, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Zophi at 9:20 AM on June 9, 2010