My workplace pays off the Dept. of Health in order to maintain appallingly disgusting practices. I want to notify someone about this, probably above the WV state level, but I'm kind of confused. Who would I contact?

It sort of depends on what the violations are. I think it would be different state agencies and possibly some Federal agencies depending on what is being done. For example, is environmental damage resulting from what they are doing? EPA? Are people’s health being jeopardized? Possibly CDC or Public Health?

Do you have evidence (video, email, etc.) of the bribery? That in and of itself can be reported to law enforcement.

Do not rule out the Health Department if they are the appropriate agency. Even if enforcement is difficult due to the small number of inspectors, a complaint would rise to the top of the investigation heap.

Also, please be prepared for the consequences of whistle blowing. Corporations have phalanxes of attorneys to throw mud all over the whistle blowing. Every aspect of you personal life could be scrutinized. Depending on the dollar amount involved in terms of lost sales, possible fines or jail time for executives, you could even (although unlikelu) be in physical danger.

Make sure you have as much documentary evidence as possible. Company documents supporting your assertions, etc.

Whistle blowing is a noble thing, but can be hard on the whislte blower. You may want to look at this site, Support for Whistleblowers.

You can always talk to the US Attorney’s office: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/offices/usa_listings2.html#w

The problem I have is no proof of the bribery, but it is well-known in the company. This is why I just can’t believe they continue to get away with it. The best thing for me is if I could get a captain to speak out, they work closely with management and know about/have seen this happening.

I’ve worked in restaurants long enough to see the many health code violations in the kitchen and elsewhere in service areas. These are rudimentary things that they don’t even bother to try to fix when the health inspectors come around. Other restaurants I’ve worked have had a pretty good baseline of cleanliness and of following the health code, then they do an extra push when they know the inspector is coming, just to make sure.

Violations at my current job include no soap in the dishwasher for months at a time, very few available hand sinks and the majority (all but 2) either have no soap or paper towels, no one ever labels or dates used food products, food/dressing get left out and used, they never wash the plate covers, trays, that sort of thing. The place is pretty filthy, like the floor in the kitchen never gets thoroughly scrubbed. The biggest thing was when a tray of 12 prime rib dinners was dropped on the floor, the head chef instructed the server to pick them up so he could re-dip them and serve them.

So, basically, I just want to give someone a heads-up of the bribery and corruption, since the chances of me having physical proof of it are slim.

@MissAnthrope What I’m proposing is you talk to the USA and see what they have to say—they may be able to launch an investigation on their own, which may either clean things up, or get a 3rd party to do health inspections to check up on the health inspectors. And I assume is that this isn’t just the place you work….

You can frequently get an investigation launched without proof—that’s what the investigation is for.

@grumpyfish – I will definitely check that out. It seems like a lot of different agencies might be interested in what goes on at my workplace.. This place has violations of every imaginable type, it’s ridiculous. Honestly, I am sitting here listening to myself write this and I can’t believe I still work there. Harassment, sexual harassment, IRS, labor, health… I seriously can’t wait to leave. Recently, two gay employees (who have since quit) and I experienced repeated homophobic comments from the cooks, not to mention they are allowed to play openly racist David Allen Coe in the kitchen during prime work hours. We have complained to management, but they don’t seem to care.

So, you add in the embezzling from the service tip pool, and I feel really fired up. I really, really want them to get what’s coming to them. I am in disbelief that they have gotten away with it for so long!

See if you can get a face to face appointment with an assistant DA from the State District Attorney’s office, by asking “who is interested in bribes being paid to State agencies?”

If you get the one guy whose portfolio is to give a shit about that issue, he will gather the evidence himself.

Also, please let us know what city no to eat in.

It’s Morgantown, WV.. not a restaurant, but a banquet facility at a golf course/resort/conference center on the lake. If you Google that, you’ll probably figure out which one it is. If you ever got invited to an event there, pack your lunch. :P

I would recommend calling your local newspaper and talking with an investigative reporter. Or, if there is a nearby local TV station, call and ask to speak with the assignment editor. Tell them you are a whistleblower who works at x location and wants to talk with an investigative TV reporter about bribery and health code violations at your workplace. If you can get a local TV station to cover this, it will definitely attract attention (and they will do the investigative work to prove the violations). It actually might be easier to get a TV station to cover this than a local newspaper, if your local paper has had lots of cut funding and doesn’t have the budget to do hard-hitting investigative stories…but worth a try.

Oooooh.. that is a really good idea. Thanks!

@occ Great idea! GA!