Comments on: Fired state ethics commission employee files whistleblower suit http://www.hrblunders.com/fired-state-ethics-commission-employee-files-whistleblower-suit/ The worst mistakes, catastrophes, and near-misses Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Cherene http://www.hrblunders.com/fired-state-ethics-commission-employee-files-whistleblower-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-3291 Cherene Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:37:34 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/?p=326#comment-3291 Good for Ms. Thaxton for reporting unethical behavior. Shame on the government for setting yet another example of questionable ethics. I believe instances as this and the one with the attorney who forged the letter and still wasn't fired just encourage others not to believe in ethics at all. Not to mention that they will never believe in Whistleblower protection which as R.B. mentioned seems non-existent in these two particular cases. I hope that Ms. Thaxton wins her case and is amply reimbursed for being punished while doing the right thing. Good for Ms. Thaxton for reporting unethical behavior. Shame on the government for setting yet another example of questionable ethics. I believe instances as this and the one with the attorney who forged the letter and still wasn’t fired just encourage others not to believe in ethics at all.

Not to mention that they will never believe in Whistleblower protection which as R.B. mentioned seems non-existent in these two particular cases. I hope that Ms. Thaxton wins her case and is amply reimbursed for being punished while doing the right thing.

]]> By: Larry http://www.hrblunders.com/fired-state-ethics-commission-employee-files-whistleblower-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-3286 Larry Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:51:23 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/?p=326#comment-3286 What a Catch-22. Government agencies seem to be the only entities that have ethics divisions, yet, are the only entities who seem to have ethics problems. Get rid of big government seems like the only solution. What a Catch-22. Government agencies seem to be the only entities that have ethics divisions, yet, are the only entities who seem to have ethics problems. Get rid of big government seems like the only solution.

]]> By: Joe Public http://www.hrblunders.com/fired-state-ethics-commission-employee-files-whistleblower-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-3220 Joe Public Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:32:28 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/?p=326#comment-3220 I have a collegue who is in mid-level managment at my current employer, a county Government, who is going through this exact situation that R.B. describes above. He has gone through the official internal ethics channels, who have basically swept his concerns under the carpet when brining up concerns of financial mismanagement and misrepresentation to the tune of tens of millions (upwards of 100 million) dollars. He is now on the finance director's hit-list and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets terminated soon. He described the exact situation above and what the probable outcome would be before he launched his official complaint. I have a collegue who is in mid-level managment at my current employer, a county Government, who is going through this exact situation that R.B. describes above. He has gone through the official internal ethics channels, who have basically swept his concerns under the carpet when brining up concerns of financial mismanagement and misrepresentation to the tune of tens of millions (upwards of 100 million) dollars. He is now on the finance director’s hit-list and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets terminated soon. He described the exact situation above and what the probable outcome would be before he launched his official complaint.

]]> By: R. B. http://www.hrblunders.com/fired-state-ethics-commission-employee-files-whistleblower-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-3216 R. B. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:06:31 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/?p=326#comment-3216 This is exactly what I meant when I commented about the earlier story and said, while two wrongs don't make a right, I can certainly understand why a person would choose to file a complaint through an anonymous channel! Whistleblower protection is basically non-existent. You still lose your job. Maybe you will be vindicated somewhere down the line, but it will take YEARS for that to happen. In the meantime, you are on the street trying to find another job and can't really talk about what has just happened to you. Your previous employer is probably going to give you a bad reference, which makes it even harder to obtain a new position. And if you're in a profession such as HR or legal, where you are supposed to be on the "other side" (protecting and keeping the employer legal and above-board), you are going to be removed from the applicant pool if anyone discovers you yourself have actually filed a complaint with a legal entity. If you don't have any other means of support, chances are, you won't pursue a complaint through legal channels because of the time involved, the emotional pain and the black mark you incur. I was placed in a position where I had to choose between doing something that was unlawful at the direction of my employer or losing my job. I agonized over the decision because I am alone with no other income or support. I realized I couldn't lose my integrity and do what my employer demanded. But they also made it clear that not doing so would be considered an act of insubordination and that I would be terminated. While the SEC and Department of Labor said they would become involved should I be terminated and while both stated this would be a retaliatory termination, neither offered any protection against termination. So I lost my job and almost lost my home. My retirement income (cashed in with penalty) and savings were used to get me through over a year of unemployment, and I am still trying to pick up the pieces financially. I was so devastated and wiped out, I didn't have the emotional strength or stamina to pursue the case through legal channels. I have the satisfaction of knowing I did what was right in spite of unbelievable pressure to compromise my integrity and values, but that's all I have. Frankly, it still hurts deeply. And I know I'm not the only person who has had to go through something like this. Until whistleblower law prevents termination, I firmly believe everyone should have an anonymous channel through which they can complain about the illegal, unethical, unlawful actions / transactions of their employer. No one should ever lose their job for doing the right thing. But it happens all the time and this case is a perfect example, as was mine. This is exactly what I meant when I commented about the earlier story and said, while two wrongs don’t make a right, I can certainly understand why a person would choose to file a complaint through an anonymous channel! Whistleblower protection is basically non-existent. You still lose your job. Maybe you will be vindicated somewhere down the line, but it will take YEARS for that to happen. In the meantime, you are on the street trying to find another job and can’t really talk about what has just happened to you. Your previous employer is probably going to give you a bad reference, which makes it even harder to obtain a new position. And if you’re in a profession such as HR or legal, where you are supposed to be on the “other side” (protecting and keeping the employer legal and above-board), you are going to be removed from the applicant pool if anyone discovers you yourself have actually filed a complaint with a legal entity. If you don’t have any other means of support, chances are, you won’t pursue a complaint through legal channels because of the time involved, the emotional pain and the black mark you incur.

I was placed in a position where I had to choose between doing something that was unlawful at the direction of my employer or losing my job. I agonized over the decision because I am alone with no other income or support. I realized I couldn’t lose my integrity and do what my employer demanded. But they also made it clear that not doing so would be considered an act of insubordination and that I would be terminated. While the SEC and Department of Labor said they would become involved should I be terminated and while both stated this would be a retaliatory termination, neither offered any protection against termination. So I lost my job and almost lost my home. My retirement income (cashed in with penalty) and savings were used to get me through over a year of unemployment, and I am still trying to pick up the pieces financially. I was so devastated and wiped out, I didn’t have the emotional strength or stamina to pursue the case through legal channels. I have the satisfaction of knowing I did what was right in spite of unbelievable pressure to compromise my integrity and values, but that’s all I have. Frankly, it still hurts deeply. And I know I’m not the only person who has had to go through something like this.

Until whistleblower law prevents termination, I firmly believe everyone should have an anonymous channel through which they can complain about the illegal, unethical, unlawful actions / transactions of their employer. No one should ever lose their job for doing the right thing. But it happens all the time and this case is a perfect example, as was mine.

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