A Question of Business Ethics

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: FreshPrince

Originally posted by: kranky
We have about one laptop a month turned in because it got dropped or something.

once a month? good lord....what kind of clumsy people does your company employ?

If you have 120 employees with laptops, that would be one broken laptop per month at an average drop rate of once per employee for 10 years.

The math would be:
a employee drops his laptop once every 10 years.
2 employees = 1 laptop broke every 5 years
10 employees = 1 laptop broken every year.
120 employees = one broken per month.

that is easily believable.

That gets expensive ... 12 x $1500 = $18,000 ... and 120 employees is still a relatively small company.

 

[imported_Imp]

Like others said, unless the person took it on a wild ride and broke it on purpose, she shouldn't be paying. However, it sounds more like the "boss" is trying to lay down a guilt trip since he is "sure" you broke it and won't fess up. If the assh0le honestly thought it was an accident, I doubt he'd make her pay.

 

[sdifox]

that's nuts... unless the employee is observed taking a hammer to the digital camera, it's not the employee's responsibility. Even if you accidentally drop the camera you are not liable.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: Safeway
No, the company needs to buy a new camera, 100%.

absolutely, If it was being used for a WORK function and it is a WORK camera, why in the world would the employee be forced to replace it. Thats what insurance is for.

If I was using my OWN camera for work purposes. I would expect my employer to replace it.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: jadinolf

Originally posted by: everman
Perhaps we should make employees of enormous girth pay for elevator repairs too.

Now that's a good idea.

or even better...FORCE THEM TO USE THE FRICKIN STAIRS!!!

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Toasthead

Originally posted by: jadinolf

Originally posted by: everman
Perhaps we should make employees of enormous girth pay for elevator repairs too.

Now that's a good idea.

or even better...FORCE THEM TO USE THE FRICKIN STAIRS!!!

If you can do that then they can force you to wear a bag over your ugly head

 

[Xavier434]

That is bullshit. She shouldn't have to pay for it and her boss is a cheap asshole for putting pressure on her to do it. God forbid he use some company funds to buy a new one after it has been beaten to a pulp over a few years...

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Safeway
No, the company needs to buy a new camera, 100%.

Cost of doing business, it's not like they don't depreciate it on taxes anyway.

 

[rbV5]

Sounds about right, pressure the intern into purchasing equipment for the business.:roll:

HR should set them straight, not to mention that major vendor digital cameras from ~ 2005 have been dying from defective parts and the camera could be covered anyway.

It their problem, not yours.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: rbV5
HR should set them straight

Assuming an HR department exists. I can't say how big his radio station is. Ethical problems like this come up a lot in smaller companies and you either have to live with it or find another job. Both suck.

 

[T9D]

Lame. My digital camera stopped working for no reason. Never abused it. For some reason one day the LCD just looked like a bad TV reception. And the pictuers never turned out either. Geez electronics break ALL THE TIME. Just look at the hardware section on here.

Think of people who work with multi million dollar gear. So if it broke you expect an employee to pay it off for the rest of his life? And sell his house? That's rediculous.

As long as it wasn't negligence and outright abuse you shouldn't have to pay.

 

[OutHouse]

your manager is spineless. she should stand her ground and just say NO! to buying a new company camera. if her boss keeps the pressure on she needs to schedule a meeting between her, her boss and her bosses boss. there would be no way in hell i would pay but thats just me.

now if i borrowed the camera for personal use and it broke, thats a whole different story and i would replace it out of my own funds.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: rbV5
HR should set them straight

Assuming an HR department exists. I can't say how big his radio station is. Ethical problems like this come up a lot in smaller companies and you either have to live with it or find another job. Both suck.

The OP mentioned

Our HR person is on vacation this week, so she can't go there

she can go there next week and should get it cleared up.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Citrix
your manager is spineless. she should stand her ground and just say NO! to buying a new company camera. if her boss keeps the pressure on she needs to schedule a meeting between her, her boss and her bosses boss. there would be no way in hell i would pay but thats just me.

:thumbsup:

Assuming her boss isn't #1 of course.



***EDIT***

Originally posted by: CrbV5
The OP mentioned

Our HR person is on vacation this week, so she can't go there

she can go there next week and should get it cleared up.

Ah! Missed that part. Lucky her.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Don't ever use their camera again. And be sure to ask if you are responsible for any other equipment before you use it each and every time.