Situations at Work 1: Report or Not Report Falsification

This begins a series outlining situations at work that can create or destroy job satisfaction and careers. Please submit comments outlining what you would do.

This case study presents a common situation at work. Please consider the previous attempts at reporting the falsification and consequences that followed as you formulate your response. Also, share how you would report the problem.

The Problem

Dan discovered multiple times over four years that  Milford, a co-worker, falsified reports. The service calls all appeared to be under contract, so no financial record existed. Dan obtained the following proof:

• Milford moved clients from other teams into dummy teams then claimed service calls made to these clients
• Milford recorded calls that had not really occurred. Dan had evidence of this in multiple formats
• Milford recorded a service a particular client. That client came to the office and asked if they recorded a service call for a certain date. The office showed the record of the call. The client informed them that he had not received the service on that date.
• Milford recorded (and signed), for 12 months, more than 300 service calls (50% of the month’s total) on the last 2 days of each month. 
• Milford transferred from one branch to another. Service calls at the old branch dropped and increased at the new branch by the exact amount recorded by Milford. Geographic territories prohibited transferring clients from one branch to another.

No financial loss or harm occurred because of the falsification—only bragging rights.

Another complication to the situation, Dan and Milford report to the same supervisor—Milford’s former mentor.

What Would You Do?

• Dan reported his concerns to upper management on four occasions.
• He submitted his proof through emails, in person, and in meetings.
• Each time management sided with Milford.
• They dismissed the evidence, and told Dan to leave it alone.
• Once when we went above the head of their shared supervisor, the director turned it over to their supervisor who reprimanded Dan.

What would you do given these circumstances? Record your comments for others to see!