Should I Report My Friend's Salary Fraud to His Company or Stay Silent?

I know one of my friends who fudged his salary pay slips and reference details. He was working with me in the same salary band and now is getting double the salary of what we used to get. I still continue to work for one of the top 4 audit companies in India and get an annual CTC of 6.5 Lakhs.

I recently asked my friend how he managed a CTC of 14.5 Lakhs per annum, which is more than a 120% hike. He told me he fudged the salary pay slips and the reference names he had given and managed to escape as well. He works in the best automobile company in India.

I feel this is wrong, and he is openly making fun of the company and its HR policies where he is currently working. I feel deeply demotivated and feel this should not be done and wish to complain as well.

The funniest part is that the company is a part of CITE HR, and many of them are members. Should I go ahead and let them know the truth so they can unearth this scam done by a colleague of mine?

Well, just as you say that he 'fudged' salary slips to his employers, isn't it possible that he exaggerated his current salary to you too, just to see the look on your face and get huge satisfaction from seeing you envious? He has certainly achieved that.

I can somewhat imagine your feelings as you might feel that this is not fair as a person you once worked with has got more than double your salary, especially employing unfair practices. Well, life isn't always fair. These things are out of your locus of control.

A Million-Dollar Question

Here's (according to me) a million-dollar question. Would you rather stay with your current job, salary, and progress ethically, or resort to unfair means and become (seemingly) successful?

Hi, what are you trying to say here? Are you trying to pull yourself or the company or the people working in that company? There are plenty of occasions where people have fudged their documents for better prospects. Just think, if there were a system in our country that helps to hire the right people for the right job, many of us wouldn't be where we are now.

I know replying to you doesn't make any sense, but in a forum, you have raised this, and the same will help so many to follow the shortcuts in life. If you are curious, do whatever you want. If you think you want to complain, do it. Why ask here when you think a person has done mischief?

If Citehr scrutinizes the joining members, so many will be affected in terms of gaining knowledge. Please don't pull anybody nor put them down for your reasons. You need to know the balance of life before you criticize anybody for any reason.

If the company is hiring a person and fixes a 1000% hike, it's their wish, and you don't have the right to point it out. So, if you are a genuine person, do whatever your conscience says...

Others have made some pertinent comments and raised apt questions, to which I will add some more.

Addressing Demotivation and Ethical Concerns

You say, "I feel deeply demotivated and feel this should not be done and wish to complain as well." Emma Wilkinson, a Health Reporter for BBC, has written an article titled "Comparing income with peers causes unhappiness." [BBC News - Comparing income with peers causes unhappiness](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10182993)

If I were you, I would not lose sleep or be demotivated by such an issue, even if I knew that the person had shown his salary slip as proof. Do you have proof of what your colleague has claimed? I would be very happy to note that I have not cheated or resorted to any unethical practices. Also, kindly remember that a thief is always liable to be caught sooner or later, and the penalty to be paid is very high. They could even lose their job. [138 School Principals Sacked In Enugu Over Falsification Of Age | INFORMATION NIGERIA](http://www.informationng.com/2013/10/138-school-principals-sacked-in-enugu-over-falsification-of-age.html)

Salary Negotiation and Talent Recognition

Wait and watch if he gets fired in the next 6 months. If not, then he deserves that salary for his talent and skill set combination.

Factors Influencing Salary Decisions

Salary is decided according to the feedback by the interviewers about the candidate's capabilities. If the HR of the hiring company decides to pay that salary, then the feedback must have been excellent. Salary also depends on the urgency to fill the vacancy and the scarcity of a required skill set. Previous salary only plays a little bit of a role, which the HR uses as an excuse to hire someone at a lower salary than he deserves.

Personal Experience with Salary Hike

I had a salary hike of more than 50% during a job switch. I have a rare skill set as my advantage. So I asked for a 50% hike, and the HR initially offered me a normal 20% hike, but I did not take the offer. Then they came back with 35%, still, I did not respond. So they had to pay me that salary. Simple enough. Trust me, I have seen guys taking 100% hikes based on their talents.

Advice on Handling Jealousy and Career Growth

What I can mostly see here is that your friend is talented, and you are jealous of that. Instead of complaining, why do you not try my technique? It is as easy as described!

Understanding Salary Negotiations and Reference Checks

Please understand that old payslips (salary, etc.) are only a relative starting point for the prospective employer to begin negotiations. There is no logic to claim a 20% or 30% hike from the existing pay, except for rationalizing or easing the negotiation process. In fact, there are many cases, including myself, where I informed the prospective employer of what I believed my market worth to be, with the primary reason for switching jobs being compensation.

They also had norms for the job and other parameters, and they offered something that was fair and agreeable to both parties.

Regarding references, smart companies utilize their own channels to conduct reference checks rather than relying solely on the information provided by the candidate.

It's funny how you feel bad for the company. Let's look at the basics here first.

Understanding Company Dynamics

Companies are business units set up to earn profits. In the pursuit of profits, there are situations where gullible, hard-working employees are fired just to save costs. It doesn't matter if they have families to feed, sick parents and large hospital bills, education, and home loans. Companies really don't care about such things in the light of making profits. Who runs companies again? It's people who set their agendas and their own moral compass about what is right and wrong in the context of earning profits.

If you see it through this frame, you will quickly realize you are not apologetic towards the company but rather towards the fact that your own moral compass doesn't give you the freedom to do something like this. Neither would mine. But the point here is you seem to have issues with this "friend" with whom you secretly compete. From here, the way it appears, it's not your friend who is going downhill, but it's your unhealthy views about someone's work ethic that is!

Mate, focus on your own life and goals. Your success is not to be measured with someone else's criteria of it. And yeah, stop thinking about taking revenge here like this and using this forum as a front for it. Go have a nice drink and wash it down.

Best Wishes,

Erstine

I think if it's just a case of sour grapes, and since you can't do it better, don't pull the other person down. He should just be happy and relieved that he does not live in any danger. Compared to his friend, he is on a more solid wicket with himself and God.

Secondly, if the other person took a risky route and managed the show, I may not be part of his scam. But do I have a birthright to bring someone down just for my personal happiness?

If it's depressing you, say it. The company paid the price for what he will be worth. How do you think you can decide or justify that? In an open market, if you assume benefit and buy a product, it's your choice. There are always cheap alternatives available, so it does not make the premium product false or wrong.

You are more unhappy because you see him earning more without guilt. It's just frustration and your deep desire for revenge. Grow up. There will be many who will move forward, and you can't always do these things.

Regards,
Shridhar

Don't do anything without having any solid proof. He might be joking, and you might have misunderstood. First, confirm that the fishes are in the pond before setting the net. If you are so morally bound, I think that you should not be so irresponsible to take such big steps, like betraying your so-called "friend" and involving others in unproductive matters, wasting their precious time. In the end, my friend, be mature.

If you want to hear the truth, you are envious, and if you dwell on it for too long, it might lead to high blood pressure for you. My advice is to stop thinking about it. If you feel strongly that it is a bad act, dissociate yourself from the source - your friend. Remember, bad company corrupts good manners!

I would like to reiterate what Debdeepb34 has said, "Wait and watch if he gets fired in the next 6 months. If not, then he deserves that salary for his talent and skillset combination."

As pointed out, companies are business organizations that are here to make a profit. If they feel they should pay him 14.5 lakh, they are free to do so. Moving on to the second point. Whether your friend deserves it? Time will tell the answer to this. If he doesn't, the same company will fire him before you could blink. But if he deserves it, then he should get it.

Attribution: https://www.citehr.com/476277-fraud-...#ixzz2lqbfF9hF

This posting seems to stem from personal envy towards the person you referred to as the so-called "FRIEND." First, clarify if he is truly your friend. If he is, stop posting such things in a common forum like this and betraying your friend. If he is not your friend, and you are just referring to him as a friend for the sake of posting, it's simply a waste of time. Ignore it and keep moving.

There are many things in life that we need to focus on productively. Instead of wasting time on such matters in a knowledge-sharing forum, it is not appreciated.

If you feel you are equally competent as your friend or more, try to market yourself in the job market with all the potential you have. As some members have said, wait for some more time, and if your so-called friend is sustaining in the system, then he deserves that pay. Companies do not usually pay more for a less competent employee. IT'S A COLD DAY IN HELL.

Regards,
Albert