Bad Boys

I believe that most people should get a second chance. Depending, of course, on the severity of the offense. It's what happens when the second chance goes awry, that defines the organization's values and ethical standards.

Does the organization have a moral responsibility to take disciplinary action, including termination, against a member who was given a second chance? Especially when the second chance was predicated upon a complete and total avoidance of the offending behavior?

I submit to you that it does. We all know that bad judgment can randomly strike almost anyone at a moment of weakness. Most of us have seen someone make a decision that we would  have never made or were surprised that THEY made that choice. Some of us have even made decisions that when reviewed later, were recognized as poor choices.

However, when someone knows that even a slight transgression will cost them their career and will have a very negative impact on their family, its time for them to completely avoid the behavior and the situations which foster it. Failure to do so implies an inability to control that aspect of their lives and places undue risk to their colleagues and the public.

The situation is compounded when the criminal justice system is involved, as it increases the odds of public scrutiny. The whole situation reeks.

If the organization has any hope for credibility, it is imperative that they follow through with the agreed upon sanctions. Failure to do so is a recipe for disaster.

I'm just sayin'

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe