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Author Topic: Is this Kosher?  (Read 1939 times)

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Offline Wineslob

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Is this Kosher?
« on: August 04, 2009, 02:58:34 PM »
First of all I realize that there is no conflict of interest in this situation but I'm not sure it's exactly right.

One of our employees was being shown where the valve controls for our sprinkler system were located. I know this because I was aksed if I knew where they were. I did, and pointed that fact out.
The employee is a supervisor (well paid) at my work and runs a small "landscaping" (really a mowing service)business on the side.
If he is being given the "account" to do the lawns, trim bushes, ect... is this kosher?


(go ahead and move if this is the wrong forum)
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Offline bijou

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2009, 03:08:36 PM »
It sounds  a bit 'off' but I suppose if his contract doesn't preclude it, it would be a matter for the employers.

Moving it to the Lounge BTW for better visibility.
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2009, 03:15:44 PM »
One of my co workers does the landscaping where I work like you are talking about.  I don't think anyone has complained.  They did have a notice up on a bulletin board asking for bids to do it.
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Offline debk

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2009, 03:21:16 PM »
If all interested employees had a chance to bid on it....seems fair.

Not sure I personally would want to do it....what if the "top guy" didn't like it or the employee didn't do a good job....could be an uncomfortable situation for all concerned.
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2009, 05:01:53 PM »
Quote from: debk on August 04, 2009, 03:21:16 PM
If all interested employees had a chance to bid on it....seems fair.

Not sure I personally would want to do it....what if the "top guy" didn't like it or the employee didn't do a good job....could be an uncomfortable situation for all concerned.

That's the "rub", if (I'm, at this point, making an assumption, bad, I know) he does get it I think he may have solicited the job, no bids that I saw.

I think you guys are right if things go "bad", he may have bitten off more than he wants to chew.
I'm not gonna worry about it, but I still thinks it's fishy.
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“The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

        -- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC (106-43 BC)

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"Practice random violence and senseless acts of brutality"

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Offline vesta111

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2009, 04:48:37 AM »
Quote from: Wineslob on August 04, 2009, 05:01:53 PM
That's the "rub", if (I'm, at this point, making an assumption, bad, I know) he does get it I think he may have solicited the job, no bids that I saw.

I think you guys are right if things go "bad", he may have bitten off more than he wants to chew.
I'm not gonna worry about it, but I still thinks it's fishy.

This does not look like good business practices to me.

A supervisor has gained a contract to work on his employers landscaping.

I can see some big problems here about to unfold.

At one place I have worked the very same thing happend, a supervisor had a cleaning business on the side.

Bids went out naturally and surprise, a company man got the bid.

The supervisor worked day shift, his company came in in the middle of second shift, they had to work around the large amount of people needing to use the rest rooms, and the cafeteria.

Not much fun for those of us on second shift, the 2 fifteen minutes breaks were frustrating if there was a woman cleaning the men's room or a man in the Lady's room.

What a crappy situation [no pun intended]

We howled and cried but the company did nothing until the workers demanded to be allowed to use the restroom when the cleaners were done. 

Down the line that supervisor was laid off, you know the old escort from the building thing. However that former supervisor had the right to return to the plant to supervise his workers.

 It got kind of funny as we watched how that former supervisor did everything to undermine the company that laid him off. A nightmare for the company as the former supervisor had an iron clad contract to clean that business for 5 years.

At the end of second shift when everyone goes home the cleaning crew were still there. 
what fun for first shift when they came to work and found stuff had gone missing, I am talking about vital machinery needed that was found hours later in a storage area.

There was a 3 rd shift cleaning crew for the manufacturing area but half the crew sneak off for a nap.

The company ended up buying out the contract for over $100,000,00 just to get rid of them.

The ex- supervisor ended up laughing his butt off as he deposited the check.

Last I heard, this ex-supervisor took the money and put it to good use, he now owns 4 cleaning company's and is bringing in the bucks.  He has no problem underbidding anyone for jobs, he has learned that with a solid contract, if his workers do a lousy job, the company will buy him out for twice the amount he would have made had he stayed to the end of the contract.


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Offline formerlurker

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2009, 05:28:07 AM »
Quote from: Wineslob on August 04, 2009, 05:01:53 PM
That's the "rub", if (I'm, at this point, making an assumption, bad, I know) he does get it I think he may have solicited the job, no bids that I saw.

I think you guys are right if things go "bad", he may have bitten off more than he wants to chew.
I'm not gonna worry about it, but I still thinks it's fishy.

If you work for a private company then there is nothing wrong with it.  However, if you work for a state/city/federal employer then there are serious problems with this.  SERIOUS.    Especially if this was done outside a bidding process, or if this landscaping company is not an approved contractor with the state, etc.

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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2009, 09:50:40 AM »
Private sector businesses can cut any kind of deal they want to, they don't have to compete it at all, it is strictly a business decision.  Not that getting quotes before making that call wouldn't be the normal course of action, but unless your company has a policy on outside employment, or he was actually the guy that approved the contract on behalf of your own company, it doesn't sound like he has violated any laws or rules.
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2009, 10:14:49 AM »
Thanks guys, we are a private company.
So, no harm done.
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“The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

        -- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC (106-43 BC)

The unobtainable is unknown at Zombo.com



"Practice random violence and senseless acts of brutality"

If you want a gender neutral bathroom, go pee in the forest.

Offline Thor

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Re: Is this Kosher?
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2009, 12:03:39 PM »
In reality, it is a conflict of interest. That said, the company can do what it wants.
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