Case Study #1

Imagine that you are a security officer working at the prestigious world headquarters of a Fortune 500 company. You had been unemployed for over 18 months before a friend of yours, Tommy Smith helped you obtain a job for the company. Tommy Smith is a local boy who has “made good.” Tommy spent the early part of his career in the Army, having served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Tommy is now the third shift supervisor of security for the Acme Company, whom you report to.

  1. On three occasions you have found an hourly maintenance mechanic asleep, in a remote location of the facility. On each occasion, you have immediately informed your supervisor, Tommy Smith, who told you he will handle the situation. To your knowledge, the maintenance employee has never been disciplined for sleeping
  2. You notice that when employees are leaving work, they talk to Tommy Smith about meeting for a drink later. Tommy tells them he’ll meet them at the “usual spot” in about 20 minutes. You ask Tommy if he could get in trouble with his superiors for fraternizing with employees. Tommy tells you it’s nobody’s business what he does after work.
  3. There are strong suspicions that a group of employees are involved in alcohol and drug use on the third shift. Some of the employees suspected of being involved are the same ones that Tommy meets after work for a drink. Tommy has told you that these employees are nothing but a bunch of “good ol’ boys” who just like to have a little fun at work. The Acme Corporation’s security department has a very clear policy regarding the behavior of all security personnel. All security department employees are required to report to the Manager of Security, any suspicions regarding the possible misconduct of employees. You believe that your supervisor, Tommy Smith, may be involved in some improprieties with some other employees but you don’t know for certain.

What if anything, should you do?

Case Study #2

You have just been named the Loss Prevention Supervisor for the ABC Company which operates a large warehouse distribution center for which you are responsible. Rumors abound that the distribution manager, whom you report to, is a recovering alcoholic. You have heard that he once had a very bright career before he became involved with alcohol. While he had abstained from alcohol for several months, he recently has missed several days of work. You heard that the assistant distribution manager had to drive the manager home from work one day last week because the manager was intoxicated.

While at the local courthouse where you are waiting to testify in a shoplifting case, you notice the distribution manager’s name on the court docket for a “driving under the influence” charge. You notice the arresting officer’s name as someone you know. You seek out this officer who informs you that on the previous Saturday night he arrested the distribution manager for drunk driving. The officer told you that the distribution manager’s blood alcohol content was .18. The officer added that the distribution manager begged the officer not to arrest him since he would lose his job if anyone from the company learned of the charge.

You notice that the distribution manager sees you speaking with the officer. When you return to work the distribution manager calls you into his office for a private meeting. He politely tells you that he has always been impressed with your work and that you have a bright career ahead of you. He also advises you that a person of your age should do all that is possible not to have enemies within the corporation and that he has a lot of friends at the corporate offices who can either help or hinder you in your career. You thank him for his time and quickly leave his office.

When you were hired, you signed a statement that you would report to management any behavior on the part of any other employee which detracts from the overall good of the company or reflects poorly on the company’s reputation.

Do you report what you know about the Distribution Manager?