What would you do if a colleague asked you to help steal or do something immoral?
The interviewers would like to know how you would react if put in an awkward or potentially harmful situation, like being asked by a colleague to steal or do something immoral. Theft can occur in many ways in the workplace and is not necessarily reserved for blatantly taking a product. Some examples include:
- Timecard fabrication, also known as 'buddy punching,' where you punch in for a colleague who is not present
- 'Borrowing' money from petty cash
- Falsifying vendor or expense accounts
- Taking items from the lost and found
- Stealing data or documents containing trade secrets
- Taking expensive office supplies like ink or adding personal items to supply orders
- Billing items to patients that do not apply to them
Of course, you already know how to answer this question! Express that you would never engage in this behaviour and discuss how you would report this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can talk about the case without providing your colleague's name.
"If a colleague asked me to help steal or do something unethical or immoral, I would be appalled. I do not condone dishonesty or theft and would let my colleague know that. I would report the incident to my immediate supervisor and document the encounter."
"I experienced a similar situation during my time at University. A fellow student often cheated on exams, and after class one time, he approached me and asked me if I wanted him to show me his method. This was unfair to those students and me who were studying and working hard to earn good grades, and it was against my school's policy, so I did report it to my professor. If I caught a co-worker stealing, I would follow the same process and report it to my manager immediately. I assume the NHS has an internal policy addressing this matter, so I would be sure to familiarize myself with it to know what to do in this circumstance."
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