Ethical Work Issue

[HereThere or IntheAir]

I work for an estate sale co. The current house has a lot, and I mean a lot of liquor for sale. This is not a question about the ethics of alcohol. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a license. You may not sell alcohol at an estate sale. I just found that out. We have always sold a few bottles in previous sales. The boss seems not to care when we discussed this before setting up the sale. The boss is not a biblical christian, but i am. I have been working on set up all month. So, as a Christian am I participating in this illegal sale by doing my job? The easy answer is excuse myself from the sale. I can't because there are only 3 of us to work this sale. Besides, that doesn't help me with the ethical issue. If I know it is illegal and I work the sale, am I sinning?

 

[Richard T]

Any chance one of the other people selling could handle the alcohol sales and you could just sell anything else? I'm thinking that if the wrong person saw this then they might issue a citation.

 

[HereThere or IntheAir]

Any chance one of the other people selling could handle the alcohol sales and you could just sell anything else? I'm thinking that if the wrong person saw this then they might issue a citation.

Thanks for your comment. Yes, technically. I don't work the check-out. I work the floor during the sale. They could definitely be fined if the authorities discover this sale. But my issue is, am I consenting to something illegal? Is that right as a Christian? Am I compromising?

 

[Richard T]

To me if your not the one selling it, then it is out of your hands and you are free and clear. "Liquor laws target the people who sell, serve, dispense, or manage the alcohol." Source: google ai.
I do not see it as an obligation to report anyone either. Your boss it seems has considered the risk and is willing to go that route. I would feel sorry for the other employees that sell the liquor but if I told them I would be very casual about it. There might be some that think you are obligated to turn this person in or tell him he is wrong. I myself would keep my distance and not learn anymore about their potential illegal behavior. I would think even a non-Christian would love you as an employee because they could trust you not to steal. I hope others will chime in, it is kind of a interesting dilemma.

 

[HereThere or IntheAir]

Thanks, I too think it is an interesting dilemma. I do not think it is my obligation to "turn them in". They are adults and fully responsible. It's like paying taxes. I would not report someone who isn't, but everyone knows they should pay taxes.
I just don't want to be tainted or be found participating. But I guess that is our walk in this world.

 

[stevevw]

I work for an estate sale co. The current house has a lot, and I mean a lot of liquor for sale. This is not a question about the ethics of alcohol. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a license. You may not sell alcohol at an estate sale. I just found that out. We have always sold a few bottles in previous sales. The boss seems not to care when we discussed this before setting up the sale. The boss is not a biblical christian, but i am. I have been working on set up all month. So, as a Christian am I participating in this illegal sale by doing my job? The easy answer is excuse myself from the sale. I can't because there are only 3 of us to work this sale. Besides, that doesn't help me with the ethical issue. If I know it is illegal and I work the sale, am I sinning?

Its a hard one. I have been in similar situations and try and distance myself from it as much as possible. In some ways you could say that a whole organisation or practice may be un Christian depending on a persons level of understanding.

Similar to "duty of care". where its not necessarily doing wrong but not ensuring and preventing wrong or harm due to the level of knowledge the person has. A care floor supervisor would have more knowledge that a general worker on workplace health and safty. A senior sales person or trainer would have more knowledge about sales than the average employee. Understand better the psychology of sales and how it mayinfluence people.

I think it depends on the individual circumstances. Your not actually selling the alcohol but the house. Some houses may be sold as is. That means all the furniture and contents. Including the drinks cabinet lol.

I am sure there is more alcohol at the end of year works party. or when they celebrate a big deal being achieved. You participate because your part of the organisation but don't necesasarily agree with some of the ways they do things. It may get to a point where you cannot go along anymore. Or it may be you are presented with a new opportunity. God will let you know.

 

[Zceptre]

If it is people putting you in a tight spot, and you are obviously not the one responsible for the illegal part of the activity, then you are simply doing your job and other people are making the decisions and creating this issue.

If you can get into real trouble and it seems a likely scenario this is possible, then it would be foolish, in my humble opinion having been expected to do questionable things myself, to go along to get along.

The final answer on whether it is sin seems to be dependent on the guidance of your conscience, since believers are guided by God's Spirit. What is God saying?

Romans 14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

[Laodicean60]

Besides, that doesn't help me with the ethical issue. If I know it is illegal and I work the sale, am I sinning?

You're not sinning with your slave master relationship. Shows the boss is a little greedy; why jeopardize your business by violating liquor laws? I bet this is tearing you up inside, and you mention the ethics, which reminds me of the Army and a contractor at the end of every fiscal year; they'd spend all the money given, whether they needed it or not. Made me sick.

 

[jacks]

I've been in a position twice at work, where I've been asked to do something illegal or unethical. It's very difficult but my advice is to diplomatically tell the manager "No". I've never been fired for doing it and potentially saved myself a lot of legal trouble and ethical angst.
. Find out if in your state an employee of an estate sale company is exempt from both criminal and civil (underage or drunk driving) prosecution when selling alcohol. My guess is not. It sounds like it isn't just one or two bottles of wine and it is likely to attract legal attention. Follow your conscious.

 

[iluvatar5150]

My main concern here would be whether or not you, personally, are exposed to legal problems. In a lot of jobs, when you as the employee are directed to do something shady, it's the company that gets punished, not you personally. But liquor sales are different. If you work at a store or a restaurant and sell alcohol to a minor, you're the one getting arrested. Ditto if you're tending bar at a place without a valid liquor license. This is probably worth running by a lawyer friend or one of the better legal subreddits.

 

[High Fidelity]

This is not a Christian matter or a matter of Christian conscience.

Your boss is asking you to commit a crime.

Decline.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I work for an estate sale co. The current house has a lot, and I mean a lot of liquor for sale. This is not a question about the ethics of alcohol. It is illegal to sell alcohol without a license. You may not sell alcohol at an estate sale. I just found that out. We have always sold a few bottles in previous sales. The boss seems not to care when we discussed this before setting up the sale. The boss is not a biblical christian, but i am. I have been working on set up all month. So, as a Christian am I participating in this illegal sale by doing my job? The easy answer is excuse myself from the sale. I can't because there are only 3 of us to work this sale. Besides, that doesn't help me with the ethical issue. If I know it is illegal and I work the sale, am I sinning?

Honestly , it has nothing to do about being a Christian and everything to do with dishonesty and bad business practice. I frequent estate sales and early on I discovered the legality of selling alcohol. Most companies just give it away for free.
I don't know if this sale has already passed but, it is a matter of time before someone turns your company in. With such a massive alcohol inventory, there is a very high risk that one buyer knows the law. The real problem is if the sold alcohol bottle was purchased by a minor or alcoholic or frankly anyone and that bottle or bottles end up in a death. This is when you become liable.

If I were you, i would stress this to the owner. Partaking in illegal sales means you have partaken in any damages that occurred from it.