2 weeks ago one of your co-workers fell down the stairs in the dorm. He's usually a fit guy, training and weight lifting, but somehow turning the corner at the landing took his knee out. You did the assessment, finding little if any sign of injury, but he was transported and placed off duty.This morning's paper has extensive coverage of yesterday's big triathlon meet and guess who is on the front page, in full color, number attached to his shirt crossing the finish line? No one else at the table seems to notice your injured co-worker running.
Do you say something? If so, who and how? You Make the Call.
Comments
I have seen this happen in our department, not a marathon but similar and ended up in the front page of the sports section. He got in trouble but I don't think anyone ratted him out. One of the Chiefs saw it.
I know several people (me being one of them) who would run with a slight to moderate injury and just deal with the discomfort. Since the first even is swimming and no impact, the 2nd is a bike ride and again, very little impact, and by the time you get to the running your already exhausted and everything hurts anyway and your running on pure adrenaline.
I would say, let it go. If it was a picture from the bar where he was just getting drunk and partying then it would be more morally responsible for you to report it.
But since it's a triathlon, and most likely for a charity event, you should give him a high five for simply finishing.
He could have held your opinion in higher regard than those he saw after you, and felt he was in good enough condition to participate. He also could be a perpetrator of fraud (assuming he is being paid while off duty). You are really going to be the best at determining that, mainly through judgement of character and past interactions with him. If you think it is all innocent, congratulate him on doing such a good job (triathlons aren't easy). If not, I've always held to the tenet that faulty people are usually more dangerous than faulty equipment.
While lying and cheating our prevalent in our culture I am confident cheaters don't cheat just once. They cheat on rig checks, they cheat on con ed, they cheat on gear safety checks, they cheat on blood pressure assessment, they cheat on listening to lung sounds, they cheat on department policy and text and talk on the phone while driving, etc.
I think we have an obligation to confront cheating before someone other than the cheater is hurt or killed.