Moral Dilemma
I’m asking for opinions. What would you do?
Recently, some people I had once admired at work have started doing nothing but complain about the job and the people. I almost immediately distanced myself from it. Not that I want to pull the wool over my eyes. Some of their complaints are valid and I realize that. But, I searched too long and hard for a good job I can do at home and would like to remain looking at the bright side, and their constant complaining was bringing me down.
But, they came up with the idea to start their own web hosting company. I laughed it off at first but I found out they are taking more and more steps towards doing this, while talking about how much they don’t like their current job and about quitting.
My bosses have no clue about this, obviously, as they gave two of these people promotions and raises recently. And these people accepted them. They apparently still have their business plans though because now they are trying to recruit another employee. This employee has confided a lot of concerns to me about it… he faces the same moral dilemma.
Here’s where I’m torn.
1. The owner of the company gave me this job as a favor. I asked for it. He gave it to me. I feel quite loyal to him and feel he should know what’s going on behind scenes. After all, the people involved in this “new business talk” are getting free training and extra wages but will probably turn around and leave, possibly taking other employees with them.
2. More than likely they are going off half-cocked and will fall flat on their face because I don’t think they really have any clue what they are doing and are just mad about some things.
3. Even if they do fall on their face, it will still hurt the company because they just got promoted into possitions that badly needed to be filled. And it is a waste of time to train these people if they don’t plan on staying.
4. I could just keep my nose to the ground and not worry about it and let whatever happens, happen.
5. If they leave and the company is hurt by this, I’d feel bad for doing nothing.
6. If I said something and it caused an uproar and hurt the company, I’d feel bad.
7. What if I did say something and they denied and it I couldn’t adequately back it up. I could put my job in jeopardy. This is a very real possibility because I don’t have a whole lot to back it up. And these people are well-respected as far as I know… but I am too. I too got a promotion recently.
I could actually keep on listing things that contradict each other. I’ve looked at this from every angle I could think of. I’ve talked to Jack in great length, and today I even confided in another employee without naming names. I just basically said “what would you do if….” and they said it was a tough call.
It IS a tough call but it’s driving me crazy. I advised the other employee who confided in me that I felt it was a very bad idea for him to get involved, and that I wish I knew nothing about it at all. I told him I was very bothered by it and that I felt what they were doing was very un-ethical. He agreed and I think he’ll stay out of it. I hope he does. He’s a great guy.
Anyway, I needed to get this off my chest… I wish I knew what to do! What would you do??
It’s a question of what you feel your morality calls for I think. If it doesn’t directly impact me, I think I’d just stay out of it in this case, but that’s me. Too much risk for personal loss and potential harm. If they don’t get to the stage of successfully leaving and starting on their own, it was a blowup over nothing. Still a hard call though.
Jason
I’d say nothing. In the end, the boss will have no idea you knew before the fact (should they actually do this). You’ve spoken proudly of this job, you love this job, YOU deserve and could be promoted (again)if they do this..You, of all people, know how hard it is to get a good stay at home job and you’ve got one. I’d simply stand back and watch so there is no risk to you and yours. Should they try to pull you off with them, be honest..tell them you like your job and you like working, let them know you could be interested in their offer, but not until they are well established as you cannot afford to take a risk with a family in the background. If they cannot accept it, there is no loss to you…you still have your current job.
*hug* for being such a good person as to want to let the boss know
My 2 Cents say do what you FEEL is right FOR you don’t if you can feel right with yourself by not telling him and then do so. If however you feel you owe him ANY loyality then by all means tell him just be prepaired to have it come back on you in either case and as long as YOU think you did right then you did reguardless of how others might feel.
Ralph
I personally think you should be as uninvolved as possible, because no matter what you do, people are going to end up pissed off at you for not saying something soon enough or for speaking up at all. It’s really stressful to be in the middle of office drama like that.