USB Flash Drive Failure

Multiple issues are raised in this scenario; issues regarding the manager’s decision, issues surrounding my decision and issues relating to the client. As a junior engineer working in the safety testing group I would feel a duty not to ignore this failure.

Once the decision had been made to disagree with the manager my first point of call would be to the ‘Public Concern at Work’ authority for advice. If this advice lead me to ‘blow the whistle’ on the manager I could do so and be protected by the ‘Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998’.

The key issue relating to the managers decision is the legal repercussion; it is stated within the ‘Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994’ that the product being supplied must conform to contract. I.e. the order made by the company was for 100% functioning USB flash memory drives not 98.5%. By ignoring this issue the manager is in breach of the contract and therefore could be on the receiving end of legal proceedings, or a financial penalty.

Having overruled my manager’s decision to ignore the failure, problems could become present within the workplace. Clearly he/she is either unaware of the various codes of conduct/ethics or simply ignores them; this being the case the outcome of the disagreement could be catastrophic. E.g. If my employment was not unfairly terminated (ref. ‘Employment Rights Act 1996) the manager could make working for him/her unbearable; potentially forcing me to resign. If this were the case my initial thought would be to acquire legal advice and possibly make an unfair dismissal claim.

The main concern relating to the client is the potential fire hazard; if a USB flash drive were to catch fire and destroy an office/building or take a life the client is likely to take legal action against the suppliers or at least look into the cause of the fault. This legal action could result in me and/or my manager losing our jobs and/or a fine placed upon the company.

In the event of a fire and the blame being placed onto the company the companies’ reputation is at risk, potentially causing reduction in sales or in the worst case scenario, the company ceasing to exist. Whether the blame is placed upon the company or not having the destruction of an office/building or the death of another human on your conscience could/should have detrimental effects.