Question

The supplies adjustment records the office supplies used for the month. A co-worker asks you to record a larger supplies adjustment compared to what is leftover so the extra supplies can be used at a nonprofit organization.

Would you do as your co-worker requests so the nonprofit organization can have these extra supplies? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I will not entertain the request of the co-worker in spite of the noble charitable cause he had mentioned.

The supplies adjustment as suggested would result in excess physical balance of the office supplies when compared to the balance of office supplies as stated in the Company's book.This act would be termed as misappropriation of the Company's assets.

Misappropriation of Company's assets,irrespective of the actual motive behind the act is an act of fraud committed on the Company and the person committing such an act would be liable for dismissal from service and criminal prosecution.The material value of such misappropriation though being not very significant would neither be ethical act for employee nor be legally sound.

If the reason for such request is to use the leftover office supplies at a nonprofit organization,the proper manner to do so would be to ask the competent person in the Company to authorize such supplies to be donated to that nonprofit organization.