Do you suspect that your colleague is involved in some dirty business dealings? You should stop the corruption once you're certain of the facts.

Corruption. The dictionary offers a simple definition of corruption as “dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery”. And it’s true, corruption often comes in the form of bribery, whether big or small.  

However for the average Joe, a “bribe” is a little white lie we’ll spin to get what we want, such as offering to buy the coffee lady lunch if she’ll only allow you to jump the queue.

However, when you suspect your manager or colleague is involved in a fraudulent activity; one that could potentially harm your job or that of those you work with, what do you do?

This is how you deal with the situation professionally.

Make sure the person is actually involved in the crime

While your gut instincts may be right, it’s always a good idea to do some research. So before getting involved in the drama, double check your suspicions.

The first place to start is to keep an eye out for the person’s usual habits. Pay attention to the way they act or hold themselves when they are not lying. Now we don’t mean staying in after hours to play detective Sherlock Holmes. Just be mindful of how they generally carry themselves.

Read: Are workplace lie detector tests legal?

Once you think you have a good idea of their everyday habits, it’s time to look out for dubious behaviour which will often signal that they are involved in something illegal:

Note that one red flag doesn’t always mean the person is lying.  So before you think “Busted!”, you need to ensure that the person is showing more than two of these actions in their response.

Figure out your intentions

When you have a better knowledge of your colleague’s dirty business dealings, and you feel you need to do the right thing, figure out your intentions. Remember that people get involved in illegal activities for many reasons. For instance, your colleague could be cornered by someone else, and figure that the only way out is to get involved in the crime.

Pettiness doesn’t score you points. So if you’re going to be spiteful and throw shade on your colleague, remember that things can backfire.

Read: Are you an annoying co-worker?

You are in safe hands

When all the facts conclude that your colleague is involved in some form of corruption, you need to report it; not only for you, but for those around you too. Many people who know about fraudulent behaviour will choose to keep quiet out of the fear that something will happen to them.

However, know that you are in safe hands. Your company should have a whistleblowers policy that will provide you with a safe environment to disclose any improper conduct. It should also protect you against occupational detriments and offer support for when you do make the disclosure. Through the Protected Disclosures Act, the law also protects whistle blowers.  

If you’ve tried everything and nothing is resolved at your place of work, these top companies have vacancies you can apply for. By signing up to receive job alerts, you can also let the vacancies find you.