If a supervisor omits thefts from his reports, what is the best course of action?

• A. Commend him for initiative
• B. Explain necessity for complete reports
• C. Warn him that he will be held responsible if his plan doesn't succeed
• D. Reprimand him for omitting the situation from his reports

Answer: (D)

When a supervisor omits thefts from reports, the issue is about truthful, complete reporting and maintaining internal controls. Leaving out wrongdoing hides risk, can allow theft to continue, and undermines accountability and the ability of management to respond appropriately. A supervisor is expected to present an accurate picture of what’s happening so operations and investigations can proceed correctly. Because of that, the best course is to reprimand the supervisor to reinforce that such omissions are unacceptable and to underscore the obligation to report reality, not conceal it. If helpful later, you can pair the reprimand with coaching or training on proper reporting procedures to prevent recurrence.