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Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game. Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss. Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues. Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training. Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling. Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities. |
My employer wants me to work extra hours for 'no pay' in order to cover past of the cost on the broken artwork. March 2005, Article 6 Dear Office-Politics, I want to do the right thing and I think that my boss is usually a fair person please help me figure out what the ethical thing to do is. I work at an art gallery in North Carolina. I earn less than $600 every
2 weeks. I got married in December to someone that makes roughly the same
amount. Three days before my wedding I was in the gallery trying to wrap
things up when a photographer who was doing a photoshoot called me over
to help him move a piece. He was pushing, I was pulling --I told him to
stop but in his overzealousness he continued to push me into a piece of
art. The art broke and it cost $3000. At first the gallery wanted me to
pay for the whole thing and I told them that was impossible. ( My engagement
ring only cost $650 because we have no money. (Ahh to be young poor in
love, an artist and well educated...) Sincerely,
Dear Art Slave , It sounds to me like the events leading up to the breakage of the artwork
were activities that were part of your normal workplace duties. As such
it is your employer and not you who are liable for any damages that occur.
Unless you were grossly negligent, which according to your description
you were not, you should not bear any responsibility for the cost. The difficulty in this situation is that to insist that you are not responsible may result in your employer firing you. And you may not have the resources to challenge that action. Losing your job may be a significant financial hardship as well. So you need to weigh whether it is worthwhile to simply absorb the cost in order to keep your job, or to insist that you are not legally required to do so. Perhaps the state department of labour can offer some advice on how this matter might be mediated to reach a resolution that allows you to keep your job, without bearing the burden of paying for the damage. I wish you well with this situation. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics. Dr. John Burton Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian whose passion is helping people and organizations create better relationships and stronger communities by being clear, committed and collaborative in their approach to ethics and conflict. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities.
The Ethics Letters that appears as a feature of this Website is an educational and discussion oriented column designed to help the reader better understand ethical issues. The matters discussed in the letter are reviewed in a summary/abbreviated way and are only meant to foster thinking on the part of the reader. If a person decides to adopt or implement suggestions, they do so at their own risk. No representation or warranty is provided in relation to suggestions or the contents of the letter. Neither the authors of the letter, Franke James, John W. Burton, or the owners of this Website accept any liability whatsoever for any opinions expressed in the letter or for errors and omissions. Submission of letters to the Office-Politics Forum grants the Publisher, Nerdheaven Ltd. the right to reproduce, republish, repurpose and excerpt the submission in any and all other media, without compensation or contacting the author. Copyright Nerdheaven Ltd. 2002-2005
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