Ok, today it was revealed to me and my coworkers that management has decided to force a snitch policy.

I work in a manufacturing plant, and there has been a few minor injuries, mostly scrapes and a few cuts that haven't needed any form of medical attention.

Now, the policy is mandatory participation, and it's regarding safety protocols. We have to write up, each month, a report of someone doing something unsafe, and and against procedure, and we have to out them by name. We can't say we didn't see anything either, as they they that would be a lie.

I have a huge problem with this. I haven't seen a safety violation in 3 years with my own eyes. And, to make matters worse, if we don't out someone, we will lose our bonus at the end of the year as punishment. It makes me sick. Hand everyone a knife, and tell us to stick in each other's back. Wtf.

I wish this wasn't legal, but I'm assuming it is. I can't see how this is a smart thing to do.... I don't know what I'm looking for with this thread, if anything, to atleast see how others feel about this type of crap. I'm at a loss for words at this point.

Thanks......

Are you in a union? If you are, maybe you could ask your union for help?

If a part of your job involves snitching then so be it ...

It's not like this goes against any labour laws, right ?

In aviation we have safety awareness and reports box but all anonymous. Here I believe it would be ilegal to demand snitching. But I doubt you never saw any protocol being broken if you know it, my shop floor have 9 employee and I see violations multiple times a day

I'm a supervisor where I work (not manufacturing mind you - IT - but still) and I completely disagree with this.

It should be management's best interest to foster an environment where ALL staff respect the rules but also respect each-other and are happy to come to work, this leads to more productive staff who are more open to change down the road.

In your case I would suggest a self-report policy. Notice something unsafe? Report it to your direct superior. They can then reward you how they see fit. Don't see anything unsafe? Move on with life. This would ensure that staff are rewarded for best practices (reporting unsafe behavior) while at the same time fostering a trusting work environment.

Sadly, I've also worked for organisations in the past that don't see the benefit of employee relations and believe in the 'because I say so rule'. So happy to be somewhere where that isn't the case.

Anyway, those are my 2 cents.

The problem does not seem to be the snitching itself. This seems more between either lying and throwing co-workers under the bus or losing your bonus simply because you did not lie.

This is an ethics issue not a legality issue.

Are bosses obligated to give out bonuses ?

No, but does that change the dilemma?

As a note, I as ethics issue as a personal ethical struggle. Never said anything about the bosses.

As a matter of fact, it does! 

So you have to rat on someone to get your bonus in this case but when you lie to your superiors about falsely accusing another employee be prepared to get sued for defamation in return ...

Don't just assume that things are legal. Educate yourself. There are a lot of things companies write into contracts or trying to enforce at work that are not legal. They always benefit from the worker's ignorance.

So educate yourself, stand your ground and prepare to lose that bonus. They probably were just trying to find an excuse to not pay it anyway.