[jw09]

I am after some advice and have created a new account as I need to remain anonymous for this.

I will try to keep it short and to the point

I work in child care. Mid 2012 a new director started and from early on I realised she didn't have a clue what she was doing in regards to regulations, ratios etc. I quickly was moved from a room to the office to work alongside her and I found myself doing most of the work while she sat in the rooms all day.

It didn't take long before I realised something was not quite right. She was using her centre credit card for personal use and these receipts were quickly adding up. She told me that she knew that head office wouldn't check the receipts if we purchased any items extra for the centre we hadn't been approved for (she didn't think i knew about her own personal purchases). I felt very uneasy as I am a moral person and I work by the book.

I really wanted to say something to management but they were very chummy and loved this director (openly saying they loved her competitiveness etc) so I didn't report anything to management.
Iknow I should have but I was quite worried as it is a big accusation to make

The more and more I looked out for it, the more obvious it was that she was immoral and not in the industry for the children. We did a number of fundraising events at the centre (for all the major charities) and money went missing each time. I was worried so at a staff meeting I raised concerns and had a few come to me after on the quiet and say that they thought it was strange and they were sure it was the director stealing, i didn't agree to anything but i was surprised they could see it too.

It continued to happen with more & more charities so i put a note up for parents saying we would no longer be fundriaisng as money / merchandise was going missing. I didn't want to watch it continue to happen.

She started charging staff for uniforms and then keeping the money (management paid for uniforms), she also sold off old centre resources and kept the money etc. Children's artwork was also sold to parents for centre equipment, this money wasn't anywhere to be seen money from staff incentive schemes also went missing.

she would take cash fees and then not bank it

Well, it turns out she was found out after management looked at her credit card and alot of money was stolen including accomodation paid for on the credit card. She was fired and asked to leave immediately.

She found another directors job immediately after. I have since found out from someone who went to the centre with her that she is up to her old tricks at this new centre including charities.

My question is - I really want to let her new employer know of this but I know it's not really my place. Should I just leave it? it's on my conscience as I really think the children and parents are disadvantaged and charities are stolen from =( I want to send a brief letter to the management company - not listing examples but saying they should be aware. I don't know if I should just leave it and hope she gets found out? I am unsure what the right thing to do is.

This post has been edited by jw09: 04/01/2013, 08:08 PM

[erindiv]

I'd tip them off anonymously. She shouldn't be in the industry.

[LeChatNinjah]

I completely understand why you want to say something, but you need to think very, very carefully about it as you could find yourself being sued for defamation / slander or whatever the correct thing is.

You can't accuse her of something without proof, and it sounds as though it may be too late for that.

The only way I can think of to do it without risking yourself is to send in something anonymously and explain why you are doing it that way.

What an awful situation, I really feel for you, I'd so want to say something as well.

[lizzzard]

I once read an article on ethics which argued that one's moral obligation absolutely extends to raising / escalating issues appropriately - if you don't, in effect, you are an accessory (morally, not legally of course). I found the argument very compelling and I do think you should alert the new employer.

If it makes you feel any better, this person may well have a compulsion or addiction and needs help - if noone speaks up, it's unlikely she'll stop of her own accord and get the help she needs...

[~*MESS*~]

I would speak to the police and let them deal with it. If the person who told you spoke to them, it would be even better.

[ManyHats]

Did she have to pay the money back? How frustrating that she stole all that money and nothing is being done to try to recover it.

I'm surprised she landed another job after this - didnt they need a reference from her previous employer?

[galba]

I think you should have done something way, way before this. You kept quiet while the parents, your colleagues and charities were defrauded.

[Sunnycat]

Did your centre contact the police and look into pressing charges?

[twinboys]

Maybe also alert the charities that she is defrauding - they may look into her practices especially if they have supplied fundraising materials to the centre.

I don't know how or why you have kept quiet for so long.

I wouldn't be able to be in the same room as someone who I was sure was committing such offenses.

[Bart.]

I thought my previous boss was a petty crim by 'spiriting' a few boxes of icecreams away each week, but this goes well beyond his antics.

I, too, think you should come clean and tell the upper management of her new centre to keep a close eye on her, given her history.