I remember as a child watching the show "Candid Camera" and thinking how much fun it must have been to be one of the hidden cameramen, spying on the people in such funny or odd situations. My grandmother once imagined “how nice everyone would be if they thought someone was taping them all the time.” For people with a conscience, or particularly spiritual people, this is in fact exactly how they live.
How the supervisor handles this initial report, however, and what follow up, if any, they conduct similarly speaks volume to their character.
There are several newer hidden camera programs that expose the different ways people react to ethical or stressful situations. One of my favorites is “What Would You Do,” where they use actors to create stressful situations or ethical dilemmas. You really can tell a lot about a person based on how they respond in these moments. While it makes for good entertainment to watch a seemingly pregnant woman drink alcohol, or someone secret away a lost wallet, or remain silent while a parent berates his children, it is only because of the shock and intrigue of these character failures. Maybe I am Pollyanna, but I prefer to watch the Good Samaritan intervene and refuse a pregnant woman’s drink, undertake herculean efforts to return a lost wallet, or counsel and/or chastise a belligerent parent.
An honest person, one with integrity, who is exposed to fraud or misconduct in the workplace will usually react the same way the good people on these shows do. They will do the right thing and report to the supervisor what they saw and explain why they believe it is wrong regardless of risks or rewards.
How the supervisor handles this initial report, however, and what follow up, if any, they conduct similarly speaks volume to their character.
The recent scandal at Penn State University is a tragic example of the dangers of having such lethargic supervisors in positions of power. A coach for the team was alleged to have sexually assaulted or molested young boys in the locker room shower. When one of the coaching assistants witnessed this, he reported to his superior, who in turn told him "it would be taken care of." Except it apparently was never taken care of and continued for some time. Penn State paid a heavy price for not having the right people or systems in place to prevent this from occurring, but the legend of Joe Paterno, a one-time saint of college football is forever tarnished because of his alleged failure to report what he was told.
Often, the reason for the cover-up is personal motivation of the person in protecting their job, their company, their friend, their profits, or sometimes their reputation. The best false claims cases involve brave whistleblowers with the integrity and honesty to report what they see to their supervisors. The callous fraudsters who silence or disregard them pay the price time and time again. It never ceases to amaze me that otherwise good people will often fail to do the right thing, just like on the television shows. Don't be surprised if sometime, somewhere, someplace when you least expect it, someone steps up to you and says "Smile, you're on Qui Tam Camera!"
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