Friday, April 30, 2004
On fraudulent behaviors and giveaway pens
Each stapler you've nicked from the office or cab fare you've overclaimed would eventually come back to haunt you some day, believe it or not. The one day you might have to stand up against a bigger fraud, your past no doubt would pull you back into the shadows because you are part of this greater scheme, in a smaller sense. I might as well have been talking about myself because I stand here, as a past recipient and a repeat offender the couple of times I've been set loose in a corporate environment. Indeed, in a way, I am.
The many unrepentant see it as a fringe benefit (cheapskate in local speak) that makes up for the actual remuneration package. It is beyond the monetary value of each item nicked, but an invisible class struggle of sorts to demonstrate self-declared ownership over office-procured stationery amidst oppression and lousy colleagues. Could likewise be the ties (or paper clips, for the matter) that bind likeminded subordinated souls in the face of disapproving managers. It all strangely adds up to motivation and cheap thrills, every passing day somewhat more tolerable in view of potential frills.
The school of thought I subscribe to, is that the more we submit to such a syndicated movement, the less likely we would be to whistleblow on our colleagues. Even if we do, it is not so much in the selfless promotion of righteousness but rather to get back at someone or to make a self-enhancing wise (albeit still highly debatable) career move. Habits no doubt will snowball, but is zero tolerance, as LKY-prescribed, the way to go? The management may feel it a small price to pay for happy staff and perceived benefits yet how ironic it is that fraud in moderation is erm, the key to escaping 42-year jailterms and outright prosecution.
Each stapler you've nicked from the office or cab fare you've overclaimed would eventually come back to haunt you some day, believe it or not. The one day you might have to stand up against a bigger fraud, your past no doubt would pull you back into the shadows because you are part of this greater scheme, in a smaller sense. I might as well have been talking about myself because I stand here, as a past recipient and a repeat offender the couple of times I've been set loose in a corporate environment. Indeed, in a way, I am.
The many unrepentant see it as a fringe benefit (cheapskate in local speak) that makes up for the actual remuneration package. It is beyond the monetary value of each item nicked, but an invisible class struggle of sorts to demonstrate self-declared ownership over office-procured stationery amidst oppression and lousy colleagues. Could likewise be the ties (or paper clips, for the matter) that bind likeminded subordinated souls in the face of disapproving managers. It all strangely adds up to motivation and cheap thrills, every passing day somewhat more tolerable in view of potential frills.
The school of thought I subscribe to, is that the more we submit to such a syndicated movement, the less likely we would be to whistleblow on our colleagues. Even if we do, it is not so much in the selfless promotion of righteousness but rather to get back at someone or to make a self-enhancing wise (albeit still highly debatable) career move. Habits no doubt will snowball, but is zero tolerance, as LKY-prescribed, the way to go? The management may feel it a small price to pay for happy staff and perceived benefits yet how ironic it is that fraud in moderation is erm, the key to escaping 42-year jailterms and outright prosecution.
