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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 21:59:27 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Reporting email violators to non jews and Rav Saadia Gaon

The fascinating business ethics question of what to do with an orthodox
worker who is visiting adult sites and chat rooms was raised in v28n64
and continued in v28n66 by David Stuhlman & Debbi Wegner. I just want to
respond to the points already made:

1) The suggestion of mailing the whole office again and telling them
that people have been caught and will be cited is not advisable because
it creates the incorrect impression that many company people are
violating the policy (when in fact only one is). Clearly this would
create a bad atmosphere/moral and is not desirable.

2) The question "What difference does it matter if he is orthodox or
Jewish" is excellent---embarassing someone is a tort (the same as
hitting someone). It is EQUALLY BIBLICALLY prohibited to both Jew and
non jew. Similarly protection/respect of property rights applies equally
to jew and non jew.

3) The suggestion "Well the guy violated policy...tell your boss and it
is not your problem" is incorrect---the systems manager was DELEGATED
responsibility for the task and is therefore MORALLY responsible himself
for HOW he IMPLEMENTS this responsibility.

4) Although this has not been explicitly stated:
4a) while there is no real status of EMBARASSMENT to a culprit who
is caught, nevertheless,
4b) if you can warn/catch him without embarassment you should do so

My advice (modifying the already submitted suggestions) is as follows:
a) A Lan manager can see that a note is received only by a certain
group.  Therefore let the lan manager send a note IN GENERAL terms but
only to the people violating policy: e.g. "The recipients of this note
have been found violating company policy. In one week a final report
will be sent to the boss who will probably fire/fine/penalize them".

b) If necessary, a note of paper can be left on the persons desk stating
You were found visiting the following sites..My final report will be
sent in a week and if you are still visiting you will be reported".

c) The lan manager should give some period (e.g a week or two) and say
that he will only report those still violating policy at the end of this
time period.

This solution
a) gives the violator time to repent
b) gives the lan manager the right to fully support company policy. Eg
his report can read: "There were several violators found: However after
a preliminary warning the number of violators dropped to zero. Further
details available on request."
c) Allows the lan manager to IMPLEMENT company policy in a manner
consistent with Jewish morals

Allow me to conclude with a famous story attributed to Rabbi Saadia
Gaon.  While walking with the king a jew came up and insulted the King
and Rav Saadia. The King told Rav Saadia "How dare he insult you, my
appointee. Cut off his tongue". Rav Saadia investigated and found the
person was horribly poor--he gave him a new job. A few months later the
King and Rav Saadia passed by and the person came out and praised Rav
Saadia. The King angrily retorted "I thought I told you to cut off his
tongue". Rav Saadia politely responded: "I did--I gave him a new one"

The moral? It is important for middle management (like Rav Saadia and
the lan manager) to realize that they can positively influence people
and inject halacha into secular situations.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA RHendel @ mcs drexel edu
Dept of Math and Comp Science
Moderator; Rashi Is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/