Workplace Ethics: Time Theft, Whistleblowers, and EEOC

Internet Use and Time Theft in the Modern Workplace

The modern workplace is unlike any before it. Globalization, stakeholders spread across different time zones, and advances in technology have created a blurring of boundaries between the workplace, the home, and the time in between. Many managers carry laptops or smartphones and answer business correspondence during their commutes and after work hours, particularly when serving international customers. One factor that contributes to time theft in the workplace is the combination of permissive policy and easy opportunity. Email, social networking, and internet searching are all routine parts of the daily job, making it simple for employees to fold personal tasks into work time.

Policy matters because it gives employees a clear standard of acceptable behavior. Interestingly, some research suggests that people benefit from short breaks that allow them to recover their concentration. However, excessive personal internet use — accounting for approximately 14% of internet users — detracts from productivity and can create a sense of demoralization among the broader workforce (Workplace Web, 2009). Like any tool, the internet can be used for positive or negative purposes, and how an organization manages that reality depends largely on the clarity and enforcement of its policies.

Whistleblowing: Origins, Definition, and Notable Cases

A whistleblower is someone who reports alleged criminal or dishonest activity to a person in authority, whether in government, private industry, or public institutions. The term originates from the sporting world, where a referee blows a whistle to signal an illegal play. The phrase was adapted for its current usage by activist Ralph Nader in the early 1970s as a deliberate alternative to the negative connotation of the word "snitch" (Johnson, 2004).

Probably the most famous whistleblower in recent decades was the real-life "Deep Throat" — W. Mark Felt — who assisted Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward in uncovering the events surrounding Watergate, ultimately contributing to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the 1970s (Fastenberg, 2011). Felt's case illustrates the significant role whistleblowers can play in holding powerful institutions accountable, and it remains a defining example of the concept in American public life.

The EEOC: Discrimination Law and Retaliation Protections

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency charged with enforcing laws against workplace discrimination and abuse. Grounded in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent legislation, the EEOC investigates discrimination charges based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, and gender identity. In addition to investigating complaints, the agency mediates and settles thousands of cases annually and is empowered to file discrimination suits directly against employers (US Code — Unlawful Employment Practices, 2000).

Retaliation refers to the act of firing, demoting, or harassing an employee who has filed an EEOC complaint or participated in a discrimination proceeding. Federal law makes clear that retaliation by an employer or organization is just as illegal as the underlying discriminatory employment practice itself. Any employee who believes they are being retaliated against is advised to contact the EEOC immediately (Facts About Retaliation, 2012).