a question of politics & Ethics 2

[bassguy]

hello all, I have a question for the group.

I work for a governmental agency (county government) and the Director of IT works with/on a comitee that is supposed to suggest/steer the directions of the IT department.

I am not on the committee but go to the meetings as a technical consultant. Now here is the dilemma,

My boss, the Director of IT lies to this committee about what is and isn't done.

For example we were directed to Move All of the websites to a centralized server under the control of one webmaster so that we would have better continuity etc. We were directed to do this 6 months ago and my boss has reported that we have done it. Well, we haven't done anything in that reguard.

One of the websites controlled by a different group is horribly out of date (the main page says "welcome to the year 2000&quot and my group plays a game called "how many clicks till it breaks" Usually the winner is about 3 clicks till a 404 or an ASP error.

The problem is that none of the county board members that my boss lies to are even going to the web site to see it. they just listen to what he says is happening then they congratulate him on his good work. I am embarrassed to admit I even work on the website and he is getting Kudos.

Now, is it ethical to point this out?
If it is how do I do it without losing my job?
any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Bassguy

 

[Nortellian]

I wouldn't want xutopia working in a mis-managed nuclear power plant. Better let the whole place blow up before I report poor work. Think about that X. Boy I never liked when people told me to "think about it". Especially when it's clear there not the ones thinking at all.

 

[bassguy]

Just a follow up note to this thread.
The IT director in an effort to look like he is addressing several problems in the department volunteered his teenage son to "Help out with the website".

The final straw for me was when his son had over the weekend "Made a few tweaks" to the HTML code and could we paste it in the website....of course I did it. The Code he changed was of Database driven material and the page was ASP. Funny, the database changes but the page doesn't.

I start my new Private sector job on Jun 2.

thanks for the support folks,

bassguy

 

[BJCooperIT]

Best of luck!

^{Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. ~Steven Wright}
Consultant/Custom Forms & PL/SQL - Oracle 8.1.7 - Windows 2000
^{When posting code, please use TGML to help readability. Thanks!}

 

[pmonett]

For the record, I've got to say that I find quite surprising that anonymous revelations is regarded by some as "unethical".
Many a scandalous situation of government corruption has been uncovered thanks to "unethical" people sick of money being used the wrong way.
Even hardened criminals have been brought to justice by such informants.
Anonymous contributors that bring truth to the public place (or higher in the corporate food chain) are not unethical as long as their whistleblowing is firmly entrenched in verifiable facts.
Giving anonymous fairy tales to the media that put an honest person under scrutiny so another can gain political credibility - THAT is unethical.
The truth is never unethical. It can be harsh, it can be unwelcome, but even if it is anonymous it is not unethical.

My 2 cents.

 

[SemperFiDownUnda]

xutopia do you think it is unethical for someone to anonymously call the police because they think their neighbor has killed someone and has the dead corpse rotting in their house? How is collecting information and anonymously providing it to the appropriate authorities unethical.

Since this is a public funded organisation then ethically the boss is doing something wrong. The absolute ethical thing to do is expose the lie regardless of the personal implications. Doing this anonimously just lessens the risk. Just maintain proof that you where the one that provided the information and other information that you did your job. Your job isn't to cover the bosses ass either.

 

[svanels]

Well we must not mix criminal actions with bosses lying about what they have done.

The thruth is that if you want to fight your boss, you better make sure you are right and have your own ass thouroughly covered. If they have something one you, it will be used against you. If you are acustomed to be late, don't critisize your boss. You deliver sloppy work, don't complain.

Management looks at productivity and loyalty. Whistle blowers will not come very high, if they are no substitute to the displaced ones.

That is how it works outside, and always will.


Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[daniel135]

Of all the solutions proposed, getting another job, offering to handle the website and telling the boss you can't cover his ass are those I prefer. They show more courage than the usual anonymous tip. These can lead to very poisonnous work environments with too much distrust... they have to be done very carefully.

That said, I wouldn't go so far as xutopia in saying they are necessarily unethical.

In any case, congratulations on your new job. What are you going to do now with regards to you boss and the board? Have you decided yet?

And oh- having the boss's son mess up your code... OUCH!!

 

[bassguy]

Yes, I have decided what I am going to do about the boss etc.

All employees are given the opportunity for an exit interview. Funny thing though the deputy director of the HR department is the IT directors wife and I have not been scheduled for an interview.

I overheard my boss saying that I was leaving for "Better opportunities,"

That put me over the edge, I am sending a letter to the Personel and Finance commitee (they directly oversee the HR department and he he the IT departments Budget) because I was not afforded an exit interview with HR.

The letter explains that I do not have sour grapes and that my only option for me was to resign and inform them of the problems and hope that they do some investigating and resolve them themselves.


So, there is the story and the finale


Bassguy

 

[daniel135]

In another thread, I believe it is CajunCenturion that refers to the latin etymology of Ethics as referring to
"Character". I believe that behaviour definitely shows good character. Kudos!

 

[xutopia]

kudos and a star!

Gary

http://www.xutopia.com

Haran
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