Ethical dilemmna

[dkicklig]

For the last 2 years I haved worked hard at not stealing time from my employers. I've tried to keep my personal projects and web surfing to a minimum, and making sure that they get 8 full hours out of work from me.

About 2 months ago I was displaced from my job, given a new temporary assignement (job ends Sept 30) and moved to an isolated office in the suburbs. Now I have nothing to do...literally I'm sitting in my office doing nothing and getting paid for it. I've tried to keep busy with training classes, and also spending alot of time looking for a new job. I've told my boss that I have nothing to do, but I still feel like I'm stealing time and money from them.

Any thoughts?

 

[dkicklig]

[quote:a980f899a5][i:a980f899a5]Originally posted by joshua[/i:a980f899a5]
Well, if you have nothing to do, and your employer knows this, and they're still paying you...there should be no issue, right? [/quote:a980f899a5]
That's my thinking..it just doesn't feel right. Then again it might just be indigestion.

 

[Gregg]

You probably have a very good work ethic and are used to staying busy. I would probably have the same feelings you are having.

 

[crhoades]

In ethical decision making scenarios when you are not sure to do go through 3 questions:

1. Is there anything in Scripture that forbids/commands the action?

2. Are you currently and will you/can you do it to God's glory?

3. Are you able to do it with a right heart/conscience?

This is the normative, teleological, existential approach to ethics. Good works consist in all three perspectives to be upheld. (Think Law, God's Glory, and Love)

Example1: It would be wrong to commit adultry to the glory of God even if felt *love* to the other party because it transgresses God's law.

Example2: It would wrong to give money to someone in need if you did for your own glory not God's. You are doing a *good* deed but for the wrong motive therefore it falls. (Think the plowing of the wicked is sin...)

Example 3: Drinking against one's conscious is also sin....

All three perspectives are interrelated and in fact if you fail at one question you fail at all three!

Sooo....Stealing is taking something that does not belong to you. Your employer has given you this time by not giving you something to do. You have attempted to clear your conscious by talking to your employer. It seems that you are trying to redeem your idle time by doing things that are enriching... So far sooo good.

I would hesitate a little further until you are sure that you are not sinning by reading this post...And also I would continue to try and seek ways to benefit the company that you are working for in your surfing etc.

Yours in the faith,
Chris

 

[Puritan Sailor]

There is always something to do. I don't know what your job description is but if you have nothing to do then you need to find something in your office which is not being done and take it upon yourself to do it, even if it means something as simple as cleaning. Show some initiative. By doing so, you will create a job for yourself and possibly earn greater respect from your boss showing yourself to be indispensible to the company. This could provide job security or even a promotion. But if you truly have nothing to do, I would use the time to finish any other work from home (like paying bills etc.) so that I have even more free time to do stuff at home.

 

[dkicklig]

To add to the complexity I'm in Atlanta and my boss works in Charlotte. The site I'm at is not even my division, and my office is so far from anyone they forget I'm there. I have no job description except to help anyone who calls me. There are projects on the horizon but I have no control over them. It is VERY frustrating.

It's all politics. The bottom line is that for some reason they've kept me around as a utility man to make it seem like they really didn't hire the other person for "diversity" reasons. I'm white male versus a person from a "protected" group.

The good thing is I have extra time to pray.