Should I be feeling guilty?

[rpj]

Feeling guilty



I felt it necessary to report a coworker today. Unexpectedly and as a result, she got fired.

She had been given a closed bag with personal financial information in it that belongs to a doctor we work for. He is purchasing a small pain management hospital and the paperwork needed to go to the bank along with his personal pay checks and income statement. She came to me today kind of bragging that she had opened it and looked at the paperwork!! She even gave me numbers and figures from the contents! Then she told another coworker all about it. She didn't seem to act like it was wrong at all. The worst part about it is that she says that she is a Christian. This info was personal, confidential and belonged to the doctor. You just don't look at other people's personal financial stuff!!! When she was confronted by our boss, she lied at first and said they "dropped out" of the bag. Then she admitted they didn't. Then she said she had lied to us about the numbers! What kind of mess is this????

The doctor we work for was really upset that she breached his trust. He is not a Christian and what must he think watching a "christian" do this?

When she got caught, she was all sorry and crying and asking me how I could do this to her. Didn't she do this to herself? I am feeling bad in one way but not in another. The Bible does say that I should go to my brother first, assuming she is a sister. She is a known liar and the lifestyle she talks about.....it's not my place to say what's in her heart. I didn't do that though and I do regret that. I asked her what she would have had me do after receiving the kind of information she so freely felt she could give me. She said she would have preferred that I had come to her first and insisted that she tell our doctor employer herself about what she had done and that if she did not, that I would tell her I would tell him myself. I asked her,"Isn't that blackmail?"
Either way, he would have found out. Anyway, either way, I believe she would have been fired.

I am not looking for someone to relieve my conscience. I am searching the Word today to comes to terms with all of this though. When she and I talked abou it, I felt as though she was putting some of the blame on me as she kept directing "why" toward me.

Did I just really screw up or did she reap what she has been sowing? I wish my part in it had never happened.

PJ

 

[Rafael]

Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, and although your co-worker was a bit immature and silly in actions it, sounds as though you were a bit vengeful towards that person. Love covers a multitude of sins, and perhaps you should have counciled your friend first and covered for them instead of exposing their sins. I would ask for forgiveness and maybe speak to the boss on their behalf if possible....

Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

[rpj]

I may have made a mistake posting here. I am not sure that people here will understand the gravity of what was breached. It was a very serious thing that happened. Like peeking into government Top Secret papers only it's the doctor's top secret papers. It's like treason in the business world, especially to tell others what you saw.

Also, I already sense the judgment of others here by the first response. I had no thought of vengence on my mind whatsoever. That judgment is false.

I graciously thank you and withdraw my participation. I will go to God, not man.

Pj

 

[Gamecock]

I may have made a mistake posting here. I am not sure that people here will understand the gravity of what was breached. It was a very serious thing that happened. Like peeking into government Top Secret papers only it's the doctor's top secret papers. It's like treason in the business world, especially to tell others what you saw.

Also, I already sense the judgment of others here by the first response. I had no thought of vengence on my mind whatsoever. That judgment is false.

I graciously thank you and withdraw my participation. I will go to God, not man.

Pj

You did the right thing. She should have been fired.

 

[Risen Tree]

Divulging confidential information is no minor crime, particularly if done intentionally. They had to let her go for the good of the company. It sucks, it hurts, I know, but you have to understand what kind of damage might have been done had she been allowed to go on with this nasty habit.

Oh, and you did the right thing. This isn't the first time that this has happened, so she should no better by now. Hopefully, she will use the down time to regroup and learn from her mistake.

My heart goes out to everyone involved.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Sometimes doing the right thing is the toughest thing. I think you did the right thing. Yes, she did this to herself. It's normal to feel upset about the results, but I don't think you should feel guilty. I've been in similar situations, both in your shoes and as the boss. Trust me - you did the right thing. Let it go. M

 

[The Sun]

She should definitely have been fired, and there was no alternative on your part in regard to your actions. Dont let it bother you.

 

[Rafael]

I may have made a mistake posting here. I am not sure that people here will understand the gravity of what was breached. It was a very serious thing that happened. Like peeking into government Top Secret papers only it's the doctor's top secret papers. It's like treason in the business world, especially to tell others what you saw.

Also, I already sense the judgment of others here by the first response. I had no thought of vengence on my mind whatsoever. That judgment is false.

I graciously thank you and withdraw my participation. I will go to God, not man.

Pj

That would make a big difference if the lives of other people were in jeopardy...No judgment given other than what was asked for, based on the info. given. Actually, I based my answer on how I would have honestly judged myself if I were in your shoes and not against you personally. We all have to deal with our decisions based on the Word of God, and that is what I would have felt and judged for myself in similar circumstances to your first post. Sorry to have upset you.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Nice goin'....chasing the new kid off. You should be the one to feel guilty. M

 

[Rafael]

Nice goin'....chasing the new kid off. You should be the one to feel guilty. M

Actually, your're much more judgmental than I was. The Word of God stands for itself, and instructions for a brother or sister in error according to what the Bible says is that we are to go to them and tell them when they do something wrong, first, and then if they don't listen or continue to do wrong, to tell and go with others.
The first post was not specific as to the situation having grave cirscumstances envolved. I didn't judge at all, but offered the best help I would have given myself from the FIRST post. The second post was more clear that others welfare and security was envolved, which makes things a very different. Wouldn't you say to pipe in with your accusation and erroneous judgment, now, is a bit hypocritical.
Trying to give advice or council based on scripture instead of saying what we might think people want to hear is not always received well. The message Jesus brought and that of the disciples was always misunderstood and brought hatred towards them and death. I guess I can't expect any difference for trying to help someone else with the truth I would give myself from scripture.
I made it clear in my second post that circumstances envolving security of other people would warrant immediate action. In this case guilt would not come from God, but from the enemy. Guilt runs us away from truth while conviction draws us towards the light and the truth with reward or repentance.

Mt.18:15 And if your brother does wrong to you, go, make clear to him his error between you and him in private: if he gives ear to you, you have got your brother back again.
16 But if he will not give ear to you, take with you one or two more, that by the lips of two or three witnesses every word may be made certain.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Justify it in your own head however you like. The fact is:

sounds as though you were a bit vengeful towards that person. Love covers a multitude of sins, and perhaps you should have counciled your friend first and covered for them instead of exposing their sins

rpj asked for advice. You got judgemental. rpj left. You also gave really bad advice. So - spin it to make yourself feel better. Facts are facts. M

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

rpj,

As someone mentioned above, when you stand up to do the right thing, sometimes you end up standing alone.

There's right and there is wrong. By not doing anything about it, it would be the same as you condoning the act. While it didn't seem like a big deal to raphe, you state you work for a doctor. Do you have access to medical records? Who's to say, that if you do have access, that she wouldn't do the same thing with patient's records? Then you have a big HIPAA issue (if you're in the states) and the office could be in hot water.

When you're emplyed by someone, your employer should be able to trust you. The person snooping did wrong and I believe that you did the right thing. She's angry at you, naturally, but she needs to step back and look at herself.

 

[rogsr]

NM

 

[Takesha]

Dear PJ,

In todays world it is sometimes hard to really understand what it is we need to do. I think you did the right thing. If the issue was a question of business ethics I don't know what other alternative you had. I read nothing in your post that indicated that your motive was a revengeful one. Rather, it seems to me that you maintianed integrety in a very difficult time. You are not responsible the consequences that the employer dished out, perhaps if she had taken responsibility for her actions your empoyer would have been more lienient. This is not a scripture but it is a saying that I use a lot " If you do not stand for something, then you will fall for anything". It seems clear from the facts you presented that this young lady broke the "work ethics" and possibly the Hippa laws as well if medical documents were involved.
Sometimes doing the right thing is not easy, if it were the whole world would be doing it!
Takesha

 

[desi]

Yeah, you probably should have talked to the person like the Bible says before you dimed them out to the man.

 

[rpj]

I decided to come back and make another appearance. I did read all the posts and was kind of surprised to see support. My conscience is still rather tender and trying to work through this.

I have asked the Lord to forgive me for missing it and for not following his
instructions to speak to her and get her to report herself. I didn't stop and think it through. I did not stop and wait for the voice of the Holy Spirit and that is what I yearn for most these days - not vengeance. His ways always work best. I do believe that I would have somehow been involved in it no matter what. She compromised me when she told me about it. I could not have kept what she told me to myself any more than if she had told me she had stolen something from him. No matter what, it was reportable.

I feel bad for her now because she has to go find another job. I wish she could get her job back with us though.

Whether she told him or I told him or a monkey told him, she was a
goner. What I wish the MOST is that she had not chosen to do that wrong act in the first place.

Let this be a lesson to all of us. Do it God's way.
Pj

 

[rpj]

BTW, I really appreciate all the comments everyone made. I was wrong to say I was wrong to post here! There is lots of good advice and support here.
Thank you everyone and I do mean everyone.
pj

 

[rogsr]