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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To report my boss?

121 replies

Truckingalong · 06/11/2015 11:21

Totally torn about what to do. I recently caught my boss out falsifying business data. She knows I know. She did it thinking id never find out. I didn't suspect a thing - I just stumbled across it by sheer chance. She is very senior, I'm reasonably senior and there is a good chance she could lose her job. I shouldn't know but I do know that she's already under investigation for something else that calls her character into question (financial wrong-doing) but I don't know what the outcome of it has been or whether it's still ongoing even. Every scenario is shit. I say nothing and feel compromised. I say something and she's sacked or disciplined and I have to carry on working with her. I say something but nothing is done about it, so we carry on working together with our relationship broken. She's lovely, a great boss and a likeable human being. My OH thinks I have to report. A colleague I've confided in says she's under a lot of pressure (she is), we all make bad calls and so let it go.

OP posts:

LittleRedSparke · 06/11/2015 14:30

i'd report today, and then worry about it over the weekend, if you are definitely going to report then it makes no odds if you do it now or on Monday

Original poster

Truckingalong · 06/11/2015 14:35

Annoyed? Hhmmm, a bit but not really. My overriding emotion is why the hell has she done such a stupid thing and put us both in this situation. I also keep thinking just what if I've got it wrong. I haven't but my brain is playing tricks on me. I also want to talk to her to ask what she was playing at and what her rationale is. From what's been said on here though, it would seem that that isn't the right course of action.
No way would I be vilified for waiting until Monday to report. As ungoo says, it's a big step to report and I'm simply thinking it all through before I do something irreversible that potentially has enormous consequences on someone's career.

I will say that our company is very lenient and dismissals for almost anything are rare.

OP posts:

GoblinLittleOwl · 06/11/2015 14:38

Advice to whistleblowers is generally:

collect as much evidence as you can;
make sure it is absolutely accurate;
do not give the suspect cause to suspect you;
say nothing to anybody;
keep your head down;

You are in a difficult position now; your boss knows you know and may be able to discredit you;
you have discussed it inside and outside the business; she may be warned.
If you are going to act, you need to act swiftly.
Only you know how serious the situation is.

Original poster

Truckingalong · 06/11/2015 14:39

It's not financial wrong doing or illegal in any way. She had to do something, tried to save time/couldn't be arsed to do it, so made the data up instead. She didn't estimate it or exaggerate it - she fabricated it.

OP posts:

GoblinLittleOwl · 06/11/2015 14:44

ps: are you able to prove, without a shadow of doubt, that she is the person falsifying the data?

I once suspected a boss of falsifying data and collected evidence to back my case, but before I confronted him it turned out he hadn't done the actual falsifying; someone much more junior had been conned into doing it unwittingly. I would not have been able to substantiate my accusation.

And watch your back.

peggyundercrackers · 06/11/2015 14:55

From What you have written there is by little impact on the company because the data is wrong. I would just ask her to correct it if she can.

Reporting her for being lazy seems a tad over the top. I certainly wouldn't report someone for being lazy and making something up as there has been no gain for the person - it would be different if she was making up figure for company or self gain then yes I would report.

lorelei9 · 07/11/2015 10:30

I read this thread with, er, diminishing horror.

It read at the start as if she had falsified data to the point it would have a massive legal or financial impact on the company.

now it feels more like she's changed data that doesn't have any e.g. falsified the number of peopel attending an event because she couldn't be arsed to look up paid registrations or something.

have I misunderstood?

Original poster

Truckingalong · 07/11/2015 15:47

I confirmed early on that it wasn't financial data or had a legal impact. I can't say on here exactly what the data is, as it's quite specific but it's not anything like, I think 10 people attended an event and that's close enough. It's far more serious than that.

OP posts:

AgentProvocateur · 07/11/2015 16:03

Whistleblowing isn't appropriate here then. That's only for criminal offences, fraud and health and safety disregards. You should report it, but not via whistleblowing.

lorelei9 · 07/11/2015 16:40

so the summary would be:

your boss falsified data that doesn't affect anyone involved in a financial or legal way - not the company, or you, or anyone else.

I don't really understand why you would report that at all tbh. I could see if there was a risk that someone would think you had falsified it, but if there is no risk to you and no other major issues.

the last point is ethics. Just to give context, I've refused to get involved in work things that I feel are highly unethical so I get that you might be unhappy with it that way. But I would think long and hard before getting into the drama of reporting something that didn't really affect anyone. I think there's a difference between refusing to get involved in something and then actually reporting someone if you think they have done something morally wrong.

lorelei9 · 07/11/2015 16:42

PS I'm more thinking of you - if it's got nothing to do with you and you report something that causes her to lose her job, are you okay with going through all the unpleasantness involved?

lifesalongsong · 07/11/2015 17:53

If there was a clear financial fraud or something illegal I'd say it was clear cut to whistleblow but if what she is guilty of is not doing her job properly it's not quite so clear cut.

To whom is the data reported, who does it affect. A solution might be to tell that person that you have found out that the data is false and let them take it from there. Does your boss have a boss?

Toffeelatteplease · 08/11/2015 07:39

I'm guessing it is like the results of a science experiment or lab result.

She couldn't be bothered to run a test or experiment so falsified data instead.

So yes it matters to a project as a whole but no it isn't legal or financial ramifications.

Should still be reported though

londonrach · 08/11/2015 07:58

Report

Scremersford · 08/11/2015 08:28

If its too trivial to make any difference, I would simply put a note on the file that the data results are unverified or untested or similar, along with asking her to check them.

I don't think your professional duties to the company mean that you have to catch someone out for minor trivialities and complain about them, before speaking personally to clear up any misunderstanding.

Then, if her reaction gives you cause for concern, you may want to take it further.

BondJayneBond · 08/11/2015 08:48

*I'm guessing it is like the results of a science experiment or lab result.

She couldn't be bothered to run a test or experiment so falsified data instead.

So yes it matters to a project as a whole but no it isn't legal or financial ramifications.*

I disagree, something that matters to a project as a whole could have financial ramifications - if project decisions are made based on the falsified results, and those results turn out to be wrong, then the project could be going down a wrong track that costs time and money to correct. If it's the sort of project with bonuses or penalties tied into completion dates, that could get serious financially.

But we have no idea what was falsified so not much point speculating I guess.

Original poster

Truckingalong · 08/11/2015 15:30

Not a project or scientific experiment. I can't say without saying, if you see what I mean. Whilst there is no financial or legal impact, she set out to purposefully deceive. It wasn't just a wild arsed guess or exaggeration on data. Thank you for all your comments. Lots of food for thought.

OP posts:

Canyouforgiveher · 08/11/2015 15:42

You are way overthinking this. If she falsified data, it doesn't matter if you perceive there to be no financial or legal impact. You cannot predict or tell. Integrity in the workplace is essential. If you can't trust employees not to deceive, the whole work system breaks down. What happens if the next time she does it, it has very serious consequences?

nor is it relevant if she is a lovely person.

You should only look at your own duty - it is clear you do not think this is a minor or trivial issue. So report it and then let what happens, happen.

I think everyone should read Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey -will cure you of overthinking.

icanteven · 10/11/2015 09:32

Any update on this, OP? What did you do on Monday?

LittleRedSparke · 30/12/2015 14:34

so Op..... did you report???

Muskey · 30/12/2015 14:51

Whistle blowing law and the protection it offers to the whistleblower refers only to employees. If you believe someone has done something improper then you should report it either to HR or if you have a legal department then report it to them. It is not for you to decide what effect the actions may or may not have in relation to the company. The matter will be investigated and if there is a case to answer so be it. Also if you don't report it there is a chance particularly if mud is being flung around that you will be implicated

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