Hey everyone,

So I’m back with another hopefully interesting discussion topic for the Engaged Center. Below is a real story and most of the circumstances that you might need to take into consideration to determine what action you would take.

Your assignment (if you choose to play):
Read the situation and comment as to what you would do and why. What comes up for you when you think about the situation and what factors play into how you would move forward.

This is meant to be a fun intellectual conversation about how you would react and what action you would take.

The Case:
Recently you have had several tents move in along the fence of your construction site. There are people living in them who come and go. The people have not caused any disturbances and are not on the property you are working on.

The owner of the construction project asked if there is any action you are going to take. You had replied no because they were not on the project site, and had not caused a disturbance, so there was nothing that needed to be done from your point of view.

There is now concern that when the construction fence comes down, the tents will be move closer to the new buildings. Some are suggesting that when the construction fence comes down in a couple weeks, the authorities should be alerted and try to get the tents to move elsewhere.

Additional Facts that weight in the decision making:
Construction has been going on for over a year, and has not had any problems with security or people coming onto the jobsite and causing trouble.

The jobsite does have a security guard who is onsite through the evening and weekends. And the tents have been set-up near the location where the security guard regularly takes up his post. Your assumption is they chose this location because there is security.

The people living in the tents, as far as you know have not broken any laws.

What action do you take?
  • Do you do nothing because as far as you know they have done nothing wrong?
  • Do you give in to the owner wanting them to be moved along and start calling the authorities now because it’s going to happen anyways?
  • Do you give the people who are living in the tents a heads up that in a couple weeks the fence is coming down and they might want to find somewhere else before then?
  • Is there something else you would do?



The same as before this is a real situation. I’m not looking for advice to what to do, but instead opening up the topic of what would you do and why. Also think about what comes up for you when you think through this situation and share those thoughts as well.

Gassho,

Shoka
sattoday