Co worker mistreatment

[JimMert]

I recently quit my job because the owner (in a shouting fit) accused me of causing one of the other employees to quit. The other employee left due to the boss’s constant yelling and demeaning comments. This worker was a reliable and consitantly kind and pleasant coworker.

I was excessively angry upon the boss’s accusation, but simply said with no malice that “I will not be accused of causing her to quit, and since you think that way; I quit too.”

I am a life long Catholic and recently (within the last 2 years) became more devout and adhearant to Catholic beliefs and tenants.

I know that retaliation is not what I was taught to do, however I feel that if this man (the boss) is not stopped he will not only ruin his business, but also cause severe mental and emotional to his current employees.

The laws in NC, state that if a boss is demeaning in his reprimand (foul language, lies and personal put downs) he can be held accountable (fined, etc.).

Is it wrong of me, not out of retaliation, but out of concern for ethical treatment of the other employees to turn him to the Labor Department? Granted, there is an underlying outcome. A level of justification will be served based on what I would do.

I have mixed feelings because on one side I would be turning him in out of retaliation for his comments and misbehaviors around me (racist jokes, sexist comments etc.) after being asked not to; on the other side my actions may very well protect others that are certainly being discriminated against, harassed or mistreated.

Can somebody please help me to decide if taking action is morally correct as well as ethically correct.
Thanks
Jim

 

[Durendin]

Lets take it to an extreme example?

Say someone broke into your house and murdered your partner. It was someone you knew and you decided to forgive them or put it behind you. Either way you chose not to report it. Next again week he murdered your neighbour. Now do you feel that you had a chance to stop it from happening but did nothing or do you feel it was none of your concern?

Ok that was far fetched, but the point being (as you noticed towards the end of your post) is that you have an oppertunity to stop your ex-boss from driving another person to quit, not to mention you’re doing him a favour as he clearly has problems that need looked at sooner rather than later.

As far as I’m concerned it’s perhaps not an obligation, but you’re morally sound to speak out.

 

[Sixtus]

I ‘co-work’. We have aduty of care towards everone we meet,. but especially towards our co-worker. They are our occupational spouse. We should in my view be as diligent with our co-worker as we are with our marital spouse.

 

[JimMert]

Thank you both for you comments and showing me that my reaction was not necessarily my need for retaliation, but maybe a much higher drive to protect my coworkers.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[mommyof4]

Having once been the victim of a bullying boss, I know how hard it is to work under someone like that. It would have been nice if someone had stood up for me (and others) rights NOT to be abused in the work place. On behalf of all victims, I ask you to report this person the whomever has authority over this person.

 

[catsrus]

I also was once the victim of a passive - aggresive bully at work.
I dreaded going to work.
I complained to my boss who told me I was “over reacting”.
I knew I was not as many others had also complained about the person.
I transferred out of the department.
She still found ways to make my working life miserable.
Finally, after 6 lonnnngggg years, I quit.
I wrote a complete dissertation, that I attached to my exit interview sheet, naming names, quotes and dates.
Last I heard, she was promoted!

 

[BlestOne]

When I was in the military, I was approached by our Area Defense Council to turn over some evidence on a co-worker for breaking the law. They knew I would have a grudge against him since he did some pretty bad things to me that would impede my career. I told them when I felt I was doing the right thing and not acting in vengeance, I would talk to them and hand it over. They said fair enough. Then I started to feel guilty for all the people that would be affected by his actions in the future, but I also knew if I turned him in, my friend (his wife) would have a hard time making ends meet. Finally, it took seeing the action repeated on a new troop and how it could hurt them and I had no problem handing over my evidence to the council.