You chose:
Report to the manager of sales department what the senior salesmen have asked you to do. Say that it has made you feel uncomfortable as you don't wish to behave unethically.
After you reported to the manager, he told you that he is aware that these practices
may be
occurring, but he doesn't want to take action that could undermine the team relationship within the department. He asked you to deal with the issue by yourself as part of the team. What should you do now?
Approach the top management (your grandparents) quietly and secretly. Explain what is happening with padding the expense accounts and suggest that they develop a plan as to how to change this prevailing practice.
Confront the senior salesperson and say that you would not falsify the expenses because you think it's unethical. Say that if he continues pushing you to follow the practice, you will have to let the management know what is going on. You hope that the issue will be dropped.
Follow the norm of the department in order to keep a good relationship with the other sales personnel in the department. You try to believe that your action to overclaim the travel expenses is a justification of low overall compensation for the sales team.
Confront the manager and insist that it's his problem not yours. His tolerance could only encourage the unethical behaviour of the salespersons. If this practice continues, it could lead to other unethical behaviour, damage the image of the firm with its clients, and create an unhealthy atmosphere within the Sales Department. To back up your position, you admit that you are the granddaughter of the owners.
