Whistle-Blowing and Snitching

My mama used to say that there's a time and place for everything. She was right. Sometimes we must step out of our comfort zone to address an injustice. Sometimes we must speak up for those who are unable to speak for themselves. Sometimes we must speak up and out when there's a conspiracy that may harm the innocent. Sometimes we must speak up when the public has a right to know -- so that they can act to protect lives and property. Then there are times when we need to address our grievances to the powers that be within an organization and not leak information to the media. There is a big difference between whistle blowing, as was the case with a municipality that was leaking toxins into the public water supply or the expose about chemicals being put into cigarettes, as opposed to the leaking of information to the media to discredit an organization -- because you are mad about a situation on the job. Employees everywhere ought to be encouraged to bring wrong-doing to the attention of the organization's leadership so that it can be rectified. By leaking an organization's wrong-doing, bad policies, mistakes, and/or other issues to the media without first bringing it to the attention of the leadership, does the leadership a great disservice. Management needs to know there is a problem if it is going to try to resolve issues and solve problems. Leaking a company's bad judgement and other frailties to the media is the lowest kind of snitching. It serves no purpose except to embarrass the organization and put it in a defensive mode. It can damage the company's reputation. A reputation is a hard thing to rebuild. The media, for their part, can only fly in like a helicopter, give the snitch's side of the story and fly right out -- leaving the carnage behind. The news story doesn't help change policy or operations. It only serves the immediate purpose of the tattle tale -- and that's to embarrass the organization and to fulfill a revenge threat . . . "You did this to me -- well I'll show you -- you can't do that to me."

Well, let me say this and I'll leave this dead horse alone for now. Each and everyone of us is accountable and responsible for everything that we do on and off the job. In most businesses usually only adults are hired -- not children -- therefore we are expected to behave as mature adults -- knowing right from wrong and showing loyalty to our employers.

That's enough preaching for today. I reserve the right to revisit this subject again.

It's All About the Attitude

Today, one my co-workers was given a beat down about something that was not her fault nor under her control. I felt bad. The whole division felt bad. We all felt bad for her. So our chief pulled the whole division together to give her a big shout out, a pat on the back and a thank you for a job well done (a job that was not in her actual job description). This woman tackles everything given to her without complaint, back talk, attitude, mood swings, or general bad attitude. I know she does this because she is a Christ-follower. Her attitude never waivers from the affirmative because her heart is focused on Christ. We can all learn so much from this woman. In 28 plus years of working with the public, I have seen some really nasty, evil, hateful people. Working in the public sector is tough. Tougher than working in the private sector, because tax-payers are quick to tell you who you really work for -- THEM.

Therefore, as public sector employees, under severe budget restrictions, no new people and less money to try and do more, we need to support and show loyalty to our colleagues and co-workers. We are all under duress. We are all tired. We all know that our jobs are at stake and we need help. We do not need the scorn of our colleagues. Nor do we need to see or experience the bad attitude of our co-workers. We need to celebrate the successes of each other -- big or small. Each and everyday we have something to celebrate. A job well done should be celebrated. A clean audit, a successful special event, a fundraising goal met, a public relations tactic that worked, a great news story in the local paper, a successful interview with a reporter -- these are all successes. We need to take time to pat each other back. Forget your individual hurt, pain, disappointment and celebrate the accomplishments of a colleague or co-worker. Step up and lend a hand where you can.

We are all in this together. We are all on a journey and we have a higher power to answer to than just the department head or boss. Follow this advice and you will have a happier work life.