The two pieces from the Ask a Manager Blog discuss the issue of a lying employee who takes credit for other people’s work. The proposed suggestion for the manager is to confront them, ask for an explanation, and fire them if there are no mitigating circumstances (Green, 2017). However, when discussing the issue with the HR department, the manager finds out that it is difficult to fire an employee because of plagiarism, as it is not considered a serious offense.
This issue is important for modern business because it raises several questions regarding the protection of employees’ intellectual property rights, and work ethics. Claiming that the work of one’s colleagues is theirs is essentially stealing, although it does not qualify as one, compared to the stealing of tangible property. If the company’s code of conduct does not stipulate how certain acts of misconduct should be addressed, they can present serious problems and lead to questionable decisions that would affect the whole team.
Lying and stealing is unethical behavior that can negatively influence the company’s image and relations within the team. However, it is a common issue, and no business can be safe from such accidents, as well as the cases of fraud, discrimination, and sexual harassment. It is the responsibility of every company to protect its employees by establishing a procedure for handling these issues. It can include instructing team members on the rules of conduct, conducting investigations, and introducing strict measures to protect employees’ intellectual rights.
Reference
Green, A. (2017). My employee lies and says other people’s work is her own. Ask a Manager. Web.