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Unethical Issue at work
MagicToaster
JapanRegistered User regular
JapanRegistered User regular
I’m a graphic designer for a large private company. My boss, the art director was fired but was given 2 months’ notice, so he’s working until he finds another job or his 2 months are up. Today, I had an informal meeting in which he told me that he’s working some clients on the side and he requested that I don’t change the password to our stock photo account after he leaves so that he could download a couple of images.
If you don’t know what stock photos are, it’s basically an online photo library in which you purchaseimages to use as you see fit. In our case, the account is paid for by the company.
I have a HUGE problem with this request, mainly because it is stealing. My boss, on the other hand doesn’t have the same moral compass as me and argues that we never go over our daily download limit and thus won’t hurt anyone (which is true, we never go over our daily download limit).
I can’t comply, as much as I’d like to help him get on his feet, I can’t do what he asks. Has anyone ever been in this kind of situation? I’m trying to find a way to tell him that I can’t help him this way, but I’m at a loss.
If you don’t know what stock photos are, it’s basically an online photo library in which you purchaseimages to use as you see fit. In our case, the account is paid for by the company.
I have a HUGE problem with this request, mainly because it is stealing. My boss, on the other hand doesn’t have the same moral compass as me and argues that we never go over our daily download limit and thus won’t hurt anyone (which is true, we never go over our daily download limit).
I can’t comply, as much as I’d like to help him get on his feet, I can’t do what he asks. Has anyone ever been in this kind of situation? I’m trying to find a way to tell him that I can’t help him this way, but I’m at a loss.
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That said, if you don't feel comfortable doing something, don't, and just be honest about it. You don't need to sugar coat it, or "find a way to tell him"...the guy won't even be there in a month or two. Just say "Hey, look, I can't do that, it's not something I can morally do".
Personally? I don't think it's that much of an issue. I've let people "take" their MSDN accounts with them when they've left their position....but if you don't feel right about it, just be up front. Honesty is the best policy.
How much do you like this guy and how secure are you in your position at the firm?
Since he's asking you to do this, I assume it's your responsibility. Have you been (or are you likely to be) told to change the password by somebody higher up? Is it just standard policy when somebody with access leaves?
You don't have to say shit to him, let him think what he wants while he's still there. When he leaves, do what you feel is right, which sounds like it probably meshes with what your job expects of you. He's no longer your boss, you're no longer bound by his words but you're still accountable to your employer. He can't really come back at you for not helping him steal, and if he tries you can always say it wasn't your call.
Currently painting: Slowly [flickr]
Whatever you do, don't lie to him, change the password when he isn't looking and pretend to claim the moral high ground.
This.
You have to play politics sometimes. The absolute moral high ground isn't always the best answer, and the OP needs to think about his own career/future.
If so, is it your responsibility do change it?
All things considered, I don't think there's any chance he got it cleared. Asking a subordinate to do him this little favor, assuring that nobody's actually getting hurt and there's no way they'd even find out... all sounds extraordinarily shady.
It's something that could come back to haunt you. He could be as on the level as he can while stealing from his former job. Or he could run up that download limit on the first and leave you guys with overage fees or no access for the month (however the limit works), or somebody could catch on to their stock photos being used by somebody who isn't paying.
Talking about having clients on the side alone is iffy - even if he's not under a noncompete, he's using company resources for jobs they probably aren't getting a cut on and continuing to do so after leaving. They could even be the company's clients that he's setting up to steal on his way out. I've been there, had some IT clients who wanted me specifically and not my employer track me down in a new job, and even that was an absolute shitstorm that you don't want to be dragged into.
However I have never seen someone given a 2 month termination notice, ever. That's what made me suspect he was possibly getting extra benefits like "okay you can use our stock photo account for x months" sort of thing. Personally I'd just flat out ignore him. If confronted repeatedly about not changing the password just tell him that you don't make policies. Otherwise just keep on keeping on.
Yup. Sometimes you have to play politics or it can bite you in the ass down the road.
If I were the OP, I'd remain noncommittal to the guy's requests and wish him the best, and then change the password when he leaves. If the guy contacted me afterwards, I'd just say the password change was requested by management or even that IT/management did it themselves.
It's real easy to claim you're a morally perfect human being, but sometimes you have to lie to protect yourself. The reason the OP shouldn't share the password (aside from his own moral compass regarding that) is because he could lose his job if anyone ever found out. And it wouldn't be too difficult for someone to find out.
Without any more info I'd totally go the play along route: tell him what he wants to hear and when he's no longer an employee follow company policy/directives (change the password). This is what you should do if you're not sure.
There is a boundary condition where this guy might be liked and upper level people may want to assist him (e.g. letting him take his time leaving, turning a blind eye to him developing client relationships, permitting access to corporate resources that he technically shouldn't have due to licensing restrictions) but they are never going to direct you in writing to do him any favors. If you're worried about that I'd inquire with either the person he reports to or the person you will report to when he's gone, though I'd be discreet about it.
Personally, I'd live with it until he leaves and then Day 1, speak to your new boss (or boss' boss) and say tell them what he asked you. Leave the decision to the bosses and follow through with what they want. He's not your supervisor anymore and you don't have to do what he asks. If your management don't care, then leave it, if they do, the password will be changed.
If he confronts you on it, you can hostly say that management made the decision. Yes they wouldn't know about it unless you told them but if you are not comfortable with something, you have to let others know.
Also, if the situation comes to light and it's determined that you knew about his plan weeks in advance that could reflect negatively on you. I would discreetly notify either his superior or the HR department of the request that's been made of you. I would have to think that someone requesting that you do something inappropriate that allows him to quote-unquote "steal" from the company after he's left is grounds for immediate dismissal on his part.
Let the higher-up or HR make the decision, but don't wait until he's gone to take action or you might implicate yourself and end up taking some of the heat for his decisions, since you're the one that's still the employee.
Potential chain of events as I see them.
1: Boss who is leaving asks you to do this favour.
2: You agree to do it, even though you have no intention of doing so.
3: Before he leaves someone finds out what he asked you to do, and your response.
4: You have no evidence other than your word that you didn't intend to take the action.
Go to his superior, or HR, and inform them of what he asked, ask them for instruction on what course of action to take.
Yes, it might be a bit sucky to potentially damage a good relationship with him before he leaves, and you might feel a bit bad about potentially hurting his chances in the future, but it seems like the path with the lowest chance of putting your job at risk.
This. Smiling to a dude's face and then stabbing him in the back is not "ethical". It's slimy and weak.
From a practical standpoint, you don't know who this guy knows or where either of you will be in five years. He's down now, but that's no reason to kick him.
If copyright protection and art licensing really stirs strong feelings, try and muster the courage to tell the guy that you aren't going to do anything unethical.
I suggest that you ask yourself if you're willing to help this person (your temporary boss) and sacrifice your job on behalf of it, or not. It really depends on how well you know this person and if you know whether it's his own work he might be uploading or if it's other's he may be "stealing". I just don't know.
Either way, you should tell him how you feel, sincerely, and if you don't feel comfortable just say, "Honestly, i don't feel very comfortable about this." In the end, there is nothing wrong with expressing the latter, even if that is the only thing you say to him. Keep in mind, this is only a first impression. I'm sorry I can't be of any further help.
i won't lie to him, if I have a moral problem with stealing lying would make me a hypocrite. I won't tell him I'll wont do it yet, as Thanatos said, antagonizing him now would just be a pain for the remainder of his employment.
This, however, is not a bridge I want to burn. He can send me future clients for me to work on the side and having professional links in the industry is good.
I'm just looking for a way to get out of this gracefully, hopefully without loosing my grace with him.
There is really no easy way - either you help him and be unethical, or you don't. I guess you could blame it on someone else - tell IT or your boss' boss.
I would not expect him to steer clients your way if you don't help him on this. If the password does change I would think he'd ask you for it as a favor.
it's really hard for him to fight you one that without being a major dick, and if he's a major dick I wouldn't really want to help him anyways
PSN: Robo_Wizard1
Just tell him that you can't guarantee anything, because if the new boss tells you to change the password, you have to change the password. Then on day one of the new world order, tell the new boss that you need to change these passwords, and he will likely say, "good idea". You change the password, and you can say your boss told you to do it.
The only way this blows up on you is if the new boss and the former boss talk about a potentially criminal act by the latter.
I mean, fuck, if he wants whatever pictures the company is currently hosting can't he just stick them on a USB drive right now or save them to a Dropbox folder? Why wait until he's gone?
As I said in my original post, he wants access to the company paid account so he can keep downloading images for his personal freelancing business after he is terminated.
You really don't see anything wrong with that?
No, I don't think it's unethical. It's the digital equivalent of taking pens or 8.5 x 11 sheets home with you. The company loses nothing from him downloading the images from their server, other than some presumably pretty trivial bandwidth.
I don't understand why he doesn't just download whatever images he needs right now instead of waiting, though.
I any case, if you're not comfortable with doing it, tell him you won't do it. If that burns a bridge, I guess that's tough luck: few things come without consequence.
It's more than taking a one time copy of a couple pictures. He wants continued access to (I'm assuming) something that costs hundreds of dollars (or more) to license to use. But that license belongs to the COMPANY, not him.
@MagicToaster - If you are uncomfortable then tell one of the following. tell him, tell his boss/your new boss, tell HR, tell legal, tell your licensing department.
This is only equivalent if you are taking those pens and sheets home with you and then selling them for profit.
Reading this thread is like having an angel on one shoulder, devil on the other.
Rights managed pictures run from $300 - $1000, royalty free subscriptions cost upwards of $3,000 for multiple users such as us.
I belive ill wait till his last day before i tell him i wont do it. I guess there is no way to save this relationship and do whats right at the same time.
...And how would this be unethical (again, assuming we're talking about you grabbing some pens off of your desk, and not, y'know, grabbing whole boxes of pens from the supply closet)?
I mean, it would be kind of ridiculous, but I'm not seeing the problem.
If the guy is leeching bandwidth like a total asshole, yes, obviously that'd be an issue. Downloading some pictures from a server later is not being a leech.