I have been extremely busy today, so I do not have time for a longer post as usual.  However, a comment from David Konig on my EMS Guide to Anonymous Blogging has me bothered.  I worked at a private ambulance company some time ago as part of their management staff.  That company shall remain unnamed.  But I can tell you that I was part of a wave of new management, and that I did not last there long because of all the ethical violations that I witnessed.  And when I say ethics violations, I mean ETHICS VIOLATIONS.  My immediate superior was removed from the building by the police one day after partying all night with two female employees and being accused of raping one of them.  Even though those charges were dropped, things were going down which were indeed quite shady.

Anyway, a few members of the old management remained and were not very pleased with the new people.  At the time an 800 number existed for the employees to anonymously call in concerns about ethics violations, and other sensitive complaints that warranted investigation without reprisal.  Apparently the two members of management left over from the old regime had used this protected line in order to voice some of their complaints.

I was brought into an office one day where all the new management was huddled around a desk listening to a recording.  Our regional manager had made a few phone calls, and had the tapes of those ‘anonymous complaints’ sent to our office.  We were instructed to listen to the tapes over and over again until we were sure which employees had made the calls.  A couple of weeks later one of those managers was terminated and the other demoted to a regular field position.  I did not participate in this meeting.  I was silent.  I also did not stay there much longer after that incident and many others that would make your skin crawl.

Unfortunately, this is the world in which we live.  These are the kinds of things that happen in corporate America.  I also have inside knowledge about other people who have been fired from other companies due to posts they made on the internet.  However, for several reasons I cannot mention any of the details of those events here.

But make no mistake.  I have seen good people whose families and mortgages were dependant on their income lose their job due to politics or because they had reported ethics violations.  These people and their families suffered financial hardships that changed their lives.  Some lost their retirement.  Some had to start careers in other fields and basically start their lives over again.

So, please…when you read my last post about anonymous blogging, take things seriously.  Blowing the whistle may be the right thing to do.  Starting a union may be the right thing to do.  But please be careful.  Don’t lose your retirement.  Don’t lose your house.  Don’t lose your career.  Don’t be careless.  The purpose of my post was to empower you to do the right thing.  (And be a super nerd.)  A little paranoia is healthy in these instances.  I live an ethical life.  I have reported people when I had to.  When I put my daughter to sleep at night I do not worry about where she will sleep next month.  I don’t worry because I am a super paranoid nerd.  Don’t play with fire.  Don’t be careless.  Don’t blow the whistle unless you are sure you have covered your tracks.

Anyway, this has been fun.  Later on in the week I will teach you how to make an untraceable phone call.  The whip cream on top will be that you will be able to make it appear like it is coming from any number you chose.  So go ahead and call that ethics hotline.  Have your computer read a script to hide your voice on your untraceable number.  Its nerdy good fun.  See you then.