Case Study 1 - Alex

SCENARIO

You are working as a volunteer in a government-funded community services organisation catering for homeless persons.

You are working with Alex who is also a volunteer. He has been assigned to an outreach service that assists clients to secure permanent housing. Since the community is far from the main office of the organisation, Alex often has to make out-of-pocket expenditures for activities involved in the community programs. Staff and volunteers are required, as per organisation's policies and procedures, to report any reimbursements for expenses in behalf of the organisation. Reporting these expenses for reimbursements are done via an online portal every week.

One day, you overheard Alex speaking with a new volunteer about how he makes extra money from his work. Alex said that he would increase the values of the expenses incurred in his reports for reimbursements. He said that he has never been questioned because they submit digital copies of receipts as part of the reporting process. He also told the new volunteer that people he knew would assist him with dockets that he would report as his own. He further asked the new volunteer not to tell anyone about this.

** Please read Code of Conduct for Volunteers

1. A) Identify and explain two (2) legal and ethical responsibilities that were breached in the scenario.

1. Code of conduct: Alex's actions, such as exaggerating the charges he reported and passing off fake dockets and receipts as his own, are instances of fraudulent behavior. This is a willful violation of legal and ethical standards since it entails lying and information hiding.

1. Code of practice: Because Alex did not behave ethically at work, practice norms were broken. He stopped being honest and started embezzling money from the company.

1 B) Refer to the Volunteers code of conduct policy and evaluate the scenario occurred. List the compliance requirements of a volunteer in the scenario ?

• Integrity and Honesty: Volunteers must always act with integrity and honesty, especially when managing money or filing expense reports.
• Accurate Reporting: In all organizational documentation, including reimbursements for expenses, volunteers must only provide honest and accurate information.
• Volunteers should not disclose fraudulent actions and should keep information about the organization's financial and operational procedures private.
• Report Misconduct: A supervisor or the appropriate authority within the company must be notified of any improper behavior or inconsistencies.

Write an email to your supervisor and report the scenario. In your email, provide the following information: Details of the situation Your assessment of the situation and explain why there is a need for specialist legal advice. The risks, consequences, and possible penalties for Alex's actions Details of the situation Your assessment of the situation and explain why there is a need for specialist legal advice. The risks, consequences, and possible penalties for Alex's actions Guidance: There is no need to send an actual email. Write your email in the spaces provided below. Ensure to maintain privacy and confidentiality when writing your email.
To	Adam Laurens &..l@yourdomain.com>
Subject	Legal Advice Support