Ethical dilemma -- what would you do?

[1gobluedem]

The other night I stopped by a party store on my way home from work to pick up some beer. The shopping center where it's located is next door to a Victory Lane Quick Oil Change. While I was in line a guy came in wearing the Victory Lane uniform; he got a can of coke and two little bottles (airplane sized) of rum. The guy at the cash register said "Oh, back again?" The guy chuckled, said yes, took his bag and went back to Victory Lane.

What I concluded is that the guy was drinking rum and coke while changing the oil in people's cars. Now, he didn't seem drunk. But still. Should I have called his boss and told him that the guy was drinking on the job? What if someone's car was compromised because of it? Was it my responsibility to rat him out?

I didn't. But I've thought about it a lot. What would you do in a situation like this?

[SteppingRazor]

1. There's no way I'd rat the dude out.

But that's just me.

[billyskank]

2. Conjecture

There may be a perfectly innocent explanation.

[1gobluedem]

3. That's a good point

Maybe there was nothing to it.

[LSK]

4. thats what I was thinking

[montanto]

5. That's a tough one.

There could be an explaination. Maybe he and the boss are drinking rum and coke in the office after work.

If there was no safety issue, in other words, if its between the guy and his boss, I'd leave it alone. After all, he's not a bus driver or a pilot.

On the other hand, what if he screws up and oil leaks out of the car as it goes down the road. Safety hazard. Motorcycles crash on this shit, and can't locate the cause.

Good Luck

:)

[1gobluedem]

8. It could do serious damage to the car too if all the oil drains out

But maybe I'm just too suspicious. But...I used to sneak drinks with my co-workers at work when I was in my 20s like this guy looked too. I feel bad about it now even though I was just ringing up groceries. But I wouldn't have appreciated being ratted out either.

Sigh. :dilemma:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. You have no idea what the guy's actually doing with those.

You want to be responsible for someone losing their job based on your assumptions?

[1gobluedem]

10. No, I absolutely don't.

Which is why I didn't do anything. It was only an assumption after all.

[Ann Arbor Dem]

7. What's the more grievous offense?

Drinking an airplane sized bottle of rum on the job?

Or drinking Miller Lite? :rofl:

[1gobluedem]

9. On or off the job?

If I could make it so, it would always be Miller Time!

[montanto]

11. Miller Lite.

Anybody, anytime, should be jailed for doing such a thing!!!!11!

[trof]

12. At the risk of sounding pompous and meddling ...

I think I might have called the boss.
Actually, with caller ID, I might have just dropped an anonymous note.

My curiosity would have gotten the best of me and I would have tried to see if he was actually working on cars while drinking.
If so, that could have very dangerous consequences.

[Hosnon]

13. Bookmark this page and if a lawsuit comes around one day where he is

blamed for drinking on the job and causing someone injury then you can testify.

But I wouldn't report him.

[Midlodemocrat]

14. There does exist the possibility that he was finished with his shift

and was hanging around chit chatting with his buddies at Victory Land while they finished theirs.

I don't know that I would have reported him. It could be totally innocuous.

[petronius]

15. You could send a note to the boss that you were planning to get your

oil changed until you saw the employee buying drinks, and then decided not to patronize the garage. Don't mention the date or describe the employee, and let the boss do what he will with the info...

[jilln]

16. "Back again" could mean from last week, or a few days ago or whatever.

It doesn't mean he was there that same day. And you have no idea when he's drinking.

Lots of people do their errands on their breaks. Maybe that's his errand.