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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Broke the law

77 replies

Lotsoflaughs · 21/09/2018 14:32

A woman I work with has openly admitted she has done something criminal. If our company found out - it would be enough to get her the sack.

Would you report her?

She has openly admitted to a few of us what she’s done. There is no love lost between her and I and if I report It; I may face people suspecting it was me and effect long term job opportunities

Any advice.

OP posts:

theOtherPamAyres · 21/09/2018 16:41

Presumably, she hasn't given you very much details.

All that you know is that in the past (for example) she made a fraudulent claim on her travel insurance; or got her husband to take the blame and the points for a driving offence; or whatever.

In other words you won't have the specific details enough to report her criminality, and no other information apart from her word.

If so, it's dead in the water.

By boasting about how she got away with a crime, she is laughing at all of us - including you and your colleagues - who can do sweet FA about it.

Original poster

Lotsoflaughs · 21/09/2018 16:51

We work in the medical field.

The incident occurred in work hours. It resulted in her getting a payout.

My colleague witnessed her in the act, but she won’t say anything because she no longer works with this lady; and that for her is satisfactory as she dislikes her as much as I do. I’ve tried to convince her to report it herself. I know that if the incident came to light, this colleague would be truthful.

The lady holds a lot of sway with other colleagues. She’s been there a lot longer than us.

We do have a code of ethics, so to speak. That’s why I am certain that if it were to come to light that she would be at least be suspended.

Oh and it occurred 6 months ago.

OP posts:

HoleyCoMoley · 21/09/2018 17:03

So she lied about an incident and got compensation. Is that right. We're there witnesses to this false claim, why didn't they speak up at the time. Was it something to do with a client or patient or a health and safety incident. Was it fully investigated at the time.

Fontofnoknowledge · 21/09/2018 17:04

If your place if Work is the NHS or the 'payout' came from the public sector budget that pays for the NHS then you should report it. It's fraud. Plain and simple and she has taken tax payers money.

NHS has a counter fraud section. They were called NHS PROTECT until a few months ago. If you google the old name it will take you to the new one and all the details on how to report your concerns (anonymously if you prefer).
Each NHS Trust also has a counter fraud department.

Ignore all the 'if it doesn't affect you' brigade. Stealing money (because that's what fraud is) from the public purse is everyone's business. As we all pay (or will be paying) tax. Unless you have lived entirely on state benefits your whole working life.

Original poster

Lotsoflaughs · 21/09/2018 17:13

Basically she intentionally damaged a piece of equipment. Ripped part of it off (my colleague witnessed this part)

Then she claimed she was injured by said piece of equipment falling on her (which she wasn’t).

She put in the Health and Safety claim and took a number of weeks off work.

Now laughs about it to a number of her cronies in work whilst having cups of tea. I am so livid that people have tolerated this

I want to squeal.

But because I was in the room at the time, they all know that I know. I’ll be persona non grata for snitching.

I know I’ll take verbal abuse behind my back and it will make my working life hell. These other colleagues all love her. I will be ignored on a daily basis and that isn’t a working environment I’d prefer

OP posts:

ApolloandDaphne · 21/09/2018 17:27

Surely to claim for an injury she needed to prove she was actually injured?

TooTrueToBeGood · 21/09/2018 17:35

Whether you report or not should be based solely on your sense of morality and ethics, not whether you like her or not. She committed an act if fraud against your employer. Personally, I'd report her in a heartbeat and if she had an issue with me doing so I'd care not a jot. Worth considering that by openly discussing it with people she is making them complicit.

FanciedAChangeToday · 21/09/2018 17:53

You may as well not say anything then if it will make your life a misery. Unless you are going to leave anyway, it would be awful for you despite it technically being the right thing to do. Word will out eventually anyway if she is that pleased with herself and talking about it

GladAllOver · 21/09/2018 17:55

So she not only made a false claim, but intentionally damaged NHS equipment.
You should not hesitate to report this. And if others resent it they are as bad as she is.

Zombae · 21/09/2018 17:56

OP, I would to her.

GladAllOver · 21/09/2018 17:57

Should have added that having got away with this she might do something similar again, and others might follow her example. Report her.

Zombae · 21/09/2018 17:59

oh my god, I just read what she actually did. Wow, that's a er...that's a conundrum. May have to report that - although it's your word against hers.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 21/09/2018 18:00

I could be wrong here but I don't think the workplace can discriminate if her crime has been spent. (Thats if it has been)
HR might know about it.They're not going to Discuss it with you are they.

MissLingoss · 21/09/2018 18:02

As we all pay (or will be paying) tax. Unless you have lived entirely on state benefits your whole working life.

You still pay VAT almost any time you buy anything, even if you're on benefits.

ADastardlyThing · 21/09/2018 18:25

Jesus that is a pickle. If you don't say anything and someone grasses it will probably come out you knew. If you do say anything your working life will be miserable.

How likely is it someone else would tell? I think that would be my decider. Or, forgive me but my job (and therefore family) would be more important than my morals, so I might even be tempted to just deny it someone did tell, but then that would open up investigations etc.......

Shit I'm not being helpful, sorry. HR? Manager? Trusted colleague?

Fontofnoknowledge · 21/09/2018 18:31

Misslingoss yes forgot about that ! You are quite right .

HoleyCoMoley · 21/09/2018 18:43

Was the equipment checked by h.s.e. at the time and found to be deliberately broken, you will need proof that she lied, I would question why she is now admitting to this. Id be inclined to contact your fraud department and say that you overheard this and need advice, alternatively if you're in a union then contact them. If she did commit fraud then you can't be discriminated against for whistle blowing. If her friends know and don't report it they are complicit in her lie.

YeOldeTrout · 21/09/2018 18:45

I'd grass someone up for that kind of fraud. No hesitation. I might even tell her to her face that I did.

glintandglide · 21/09/2018 18:56

Don’t bother, the case is settled now and they’re not going to go to the expense of rehashing it- she probably got very little relatively speaking so not worth all this angst on your part. She doesn’t work there anymore, job done.

glintandglide · 21/09/2018 18:57

By the way I’m not sure what you describe is something criminal- I think we were all expecting a murder OP- but lying about a work incident to the health and safety department and negotiation a pay out- what’s the illegal bit? She hasn’t committed insurance fraud has she?

HoleyCoMoley · 21/09/2018 19:00

Glint, I think she does still work there, why do you think she doesn't. Dont you think she broke the law by wilfully damaging property, submitting a false claim and accepting money by deception.

Original poster

Lotsoflaughs · 21/09/2018 19:01

Criminal damage and fraud are crimes?

Crimes she would be removed from her position for - are code of ethics is very clear

OP posts:

glintandglide · 21/09/2018 19:01

I thought she reached a settlement to leave? Maybe misread
No not really, if everyone who broke a peice Of work equipment was reported to the police the police would never get to anything else.

glintandglide · 21/09/2018 19:03

but you would have to get her arrested and successfully prosecuted to know whether or not she’d committed those crimes and I think that’s highly unlikely, just because they’re not very important, criminal justice wise

HoleyCoMoley · 21/09/2018 19:13

There is a confidential nhs action fraud website where you can report things.

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