Moral Dillemia

[Rathe]

Alrighty, I have a very large moral dillemia (besides not being sure if I'm spelling that correctly). All my life I've studied martial arts and I was raised with a sense of honor and doing the right thing. I am currently a network administrator/programmer for a company who is performing massively illegal activities on a daily basis. Such as doctoring tax forms, lying to financing companies, submitting false information for tax purposes. And they don't seem to be getting caught.

 

They keep trying to drag me into it by creating programs that will help them perform these activities. I keep telling them I won't do it and I'm being threatened with my job. Now personally I think this is pretty stupid of them beings I know what they do, have proof of what they do and could easily turn them in. The biggest problem is I have a baby on the way in 5 weeks and can't afford to be without a job.

 

I just wanted some advice from people with no biased opinions with my situation. Any thoughts of how to handle this?

[monkeygirl]

I would leave or turn them in. The fact of the matter is: you KNOW what they're doing. Although they aren't getting caught now, they probably will. And when that happens, a lot of people are going to take the fall. There's this nasty little "guilty by association" thing, and if they connect you with this corruption, you could suffer a fate far worse than losing your job now...and that won't do your baby any good at all.

 

If you start to look for a different job now, it'll be easier because the name of the company on your resume won't be a tarnished one yet. I'm sure a lot of companies in the Philadelphia area need network administrators.

 

How large is the company you work for? The whole "bigger they are, the harder they fall" concept seems to be true in corrupt companies

[shotochem]

Hello Rathe,

 

They keep trying to drag me into it by creating programs that will help them perform these activities. I keep telling them I won't do it and I'm being threatened with my job.

 

If they are doing these illegal activitives, they will ultimately be caught and prosecuted. Therefore you would still be without a job.

 

The biggest problem is I have a baby on the way in 5 weeks and can't afford to be without a job.

 

It would be a terrible thing if you were dragged in to these activitives and had to have the child in prision or at a later time be sent to prision and taken away from your child.

 

Do the right thing. You are obviously not that type of person because you are asking advice out of this situation. Either leave and find other employment opportunities or turn them in to the proper authorities. Do whats best for the health of the child and yourself. Remember you have to live with yourself and the ramifications of your decision.

 

Good luck to you and may you have a happy and healthy child.

 

[Rathe]

Thanks for your advice, I think I am definately going to follow the advice. I was leaning there anyway. Its not the easiest decision though although it may seem so. being without a job is hard and the job market for Programmers and IT People aren't the greatest. *dreams of the days when his school shall open full time*

 

Thanks guys. And thanks for wishing me luck on the baby, I'm gonna need it. <---- me as a father.

[steveb]

Call the IRS. They have programs to help whistleblowers. Also, while it may not be a crime to stand by and do nothing if you in any way now perpetuate or assist in this fraud you will most likely be charged.

 

Best of luck, it's a sucky situation.

[ncole_91]

If you know about something illegeal that is happening, and you do nothing, can you not get charged also. Like I mean for Conspiricy to Commit Murder, even if you dont kill the person, but know it is going to happen you can get charged (i think).

[delta1]

I would leave or turn them in. The fact of the matter is: you KNOW what they're doing. Although they aren't getting caught now, they probably will. And when that happens, a lot of people are going to take the fall...If you start to look for a different job now, it'll be easier because the name of the company on your resume won't be a tarnished one yet.

 

Good advice. And, even after you leave, you can be caught back up in the mess. You'll be investigated, possibly implicated, certainly leaned on for information, subpeonad as a witnes. And, let me clue you in to one sad thing about our 'justice' system- it ain't! You can more easily be set up after you leave because you won't have a clue what is happening. I've never been pegged for anything I did- you can prepare for that. But I've been hammered for things I didn't even know had occured. How can you be ready for fabrications that you aren't privvy to?

 

If you are witness to, and are pressured to be a part of, seriouse illigal activities, you need to cover yourself. Get evidence and put it in safe locations. Write down names, dates, times, and what was said or done. Find out what you are dealing with. Are these just dishonest schmucks out for an easy buck, or are they involved with organized crime? And organized crime doesn't have to be big- small local groupes can be just as viscouse as the big boys. If they are schmucks, they'll get caught. Go to the authorities with what you have, or better yet let your lawyer do this. If they are organized crime, you seriously need professional help.

 

It's sad to hear about this kind of thing, but it is a reality of the times, I guess. But the quicker you get out, the better off you'll be, as long as you can prove innocence, or at least cast seriouse doubt about guilt. Wish you the best of luck.

[kchenault]

Rathe,

 

Get out now while you can. Pull the plug on them at the same time. Gather your evidence to prove your innocence and to convict them of wrong doing. The government is really frowning on this sort of thing right now.

 

I tell you these things because I just got back from working in a prison in Indiana 2 weeks ago. Those guys in prison don't care whether or not you know martial arts. They have pack mentality, and there aren't too many, if any, people who can or could take on ten guys at once. They will do things to you that you don't want them to do. And it isn't about sex, it's about domination and power. It is a constant struggle in prison, just to stay alive.

 

I had an inmate talking trash at me through the cafeteria window all because I was short, according to the guard we were with. They just don't care there.

 

Get out now, for you, your wife and your baby. Turn them in, for Honor and Honesty and because it is the right and noble thing to do.

 

God bless Rathe

[Rathe]

Just an update for anyone who cares. I'm out of that job as of today. Got an interview lined up with a new job which is looking promising. Back to the law abiding military contracting........ hmmm...

[kchenault]

Good on you Rathe! I hope and pray that the perfect job for you and your family opens very quickly and you know to jump on it. Merry Christmas!