Feb 4, 2009
You just found $20
So, I had a discussion with some coworkers today regarding a few ‘what to do if’ situations. I’d like to know what everyone thinks and why after I explain my view.
The entire conversation started when I stated that I found $18 cash in the change dispenser of a self-checkout at Albertsons. My coworker Chris asked if I turned the money in or if I kept it. My answer was quick and very determined, “I kept it.” This of course led to the discussion of whether or not I should have turned the money in or really have kept it.
My whole thought is “what would I want done to me?” The argument I used, and still hold to, is to do what you would want done to yourself. If I had used a self-checkout, been given change and then forgot my change, what would I expect someone to do in that instance. In all reality, my loss is someone else’s gain. I have, in fact, left money in one of those self-checkouts once before (by accident) and didn’t even attempt to go back to the store and retrieve the money. What are the chances that the money is still there or that someone would have turned it in? Quite slim. Then, what are the chances (if someone did turn it in) that the store clerk didn’t pocket the cash or follow policy and stick the money in the store’s coffers? Even slimmer. But, its completely different to find a wallet with cash in it and not turn the wallet in to the person (or police).
In essence, I’ve defined my ethics like this: if the owner is someone attached to the item and easily found, I will return it to him. If I found a wallet on the ground, I have an obligation and responsibility to make my best effort to return the wallet (and contents) to the rightful owner. This is mostly due to the fact that the actual owner is visibly attached to the wallet (through an ID or license). But, if I were to find a $20 bill on the ground (and I did not visibly see the person drop it) it becomes mine when I pick it up. The same principle applies if you find cash sitting the the change slot of the self-checkout at a grocery store and you do not see the person that was just using the machine.
I do need to say that this does not apply if you find cash in someone’s car or clothing (if you’re borrowing it or washing it for them, etc). The cash is easily ‘attached’ to the person and they are easily found.
So, what are your thoughts on this? What do you think is right (and ethical)?
Posted by Nathaniel Keifer
You reap what you sow…
I had a friend who was a janitor for an office complex turn in a $20 bill that he found to his supervisor. Later that month, the complex was robbed and the janitor was the only person on record of being in the building that night. His only defense was his supervisor sticking up for him because of the good deed he had done a few weeks prior.
I had another friend lose their wedding ring at Disneyland once, and the person who found didn't pocket it, but turned it in to the Lost and Found. The ring and owner were happily reunited that day. I think the individual who found the lost ring was operating on the logic of "if it's not mine to begin with…"
Well, janitor is a little different than a guy walking by a self-checkout machine, no?
And wedding ring is a whole lot different than a $20 bill, in my opinion. I would have turned a wedding ring in, that falls in the same category as a wallet or purse.