Amanda Biernacki

Writing Assignment 2
Plagiarism: Persuasive Essay
9/9/2014

Plagiarism in the Workplace

Novelist George A. Moore once said, Taking something from one man and making it

worse is plagiarism (George). Plagiarism does not add anything to the workplace. It takes credit

for something that has already been created. Plagiarism in the workplace negatively impacts both

the individual and the industry as a whole. However, plagiarism is often considered a victimless,

and even acceptable, crime. New professionals entering the workplace should educate

themselves on the adverse effects of plagiarism in not only their lives but the lives and careers of

their coworkers. Plagiarism in the workplace is a social, ethical, and legal offense.

Again, plagiarism is a social offense in the workplace. The plagiarist is not the only one

who is affected. The person or group who originally created the work is also affected. The time,

effort, and thought put into creating the work is stolen. The negative effect of their plagiarism

extends beyond the individual person or group they stole from. Plagiarism costs the software

industry two billion dollars a year, and this is in only in one industry (Lannon). Billions of

dollars are lost in all different industries due to plagiarism. When one person decides to claim

anothers work as their own, they are affecting a larger group of people. This act affects the

industry and society as a whole. Because of this, plagiarism is not respected in the workplace.

Plagiarism can cost a person his or her professional reputation. Plagiarism costs professionals

their credibility in the workplace. Businesses do not want to hire professionals who have been

caught plagiarizing in the past. Plagiarism is insulting. By stealing the work of others, a plagiarist
is disrespecting that person or group and disrespecting the entire industry. Professionals have an

obligation to their company, coworkers, and industry that they will respect their position in the

community. Plagiarism does not honor this obligation. Instead, this action is without integrity

and disregards the responsibilities of the professional world.

In addition to being a social insult, plagiarism is a legal offense. When one plagiarizes,

they are committing a crime. By not giving credit to the original writer or creator of a text or

product, the plagiarist is stealing. Plagiarism opens the door to the possibility of large fines and a

criminal record. Plagiarism is criminal activity, and much like fraud and other crimes in

business, stealing the intellectual property of another person is a serious offense. A person may

be fined between 200 and 150,000 dollars for a single act of plagiarism (Copyright). Software

theft can cost a person 250,000 dollars in fines and five years in prison (Lannon). If found

guilty, the plagiarist is also responsible for covering the court and attorney fees of the other party.

This costs the individual thousands of dollars, and could possibly cause them financial problems

for a long time afterward. Plagiarism is not worth the amount of money it can cost the plagiarist.

Plagiarism is also not worth the possibility of jail time. Unlike what is sometimes believed,

plagiarism is not a minor offense. It is a serious crime with serious consequences. On top of

ruining their reputation as a professional and losing the respect of their coworkers, plagiarists can

ruin their reputation as a law abiding citizen. Even after completing the jail time and paying the

fines from the trial, this record will continue to follow the plagiarist throughout his or her career.

This may even cost them different job opportunities and career paths along the way.

Lastly, plagiarism is an ethical offense. From the time children are born, they are taught

what is right and what is wrong. One of the common rules children learn is not to steal. Most

would agree that stealing money or other tangible valuables from another is wrong. However,
when it comes to intangible products, such as thoughts and ideas, people do not view stealing in

the same way. The New York Times code of ethics states, Staff members who plagiarize for

publication betray our fundamental pact with our readers. We do not tolerate such behavior

(Standards). Writers for the New York Times are highly respected professionals in their field.

However, even they need to take steps to avoid plagiarism. An exhibited in the New York Times

Code of Ethics, plagiarism can be more than just unethical. It can be a fireable offense. A person

can lose their job and their professional standing can be hurt because of it. As previously

mentioned, other businesses may be unwilling to hire an individual who was accused of

plagiarism in the past. This makes it hard for the person to find a job. With the court fees and

fines he or she may now have, this could become a major problem. Unethical behavior is taken

very seriously in the workplace, and plagiarism is not any different. Plagiarism can cost more

than a reputation and court fees. It could cost a career.

In conclusion, plagiarism is never worth it, and steps should be taken to avoid it in the

workplace. Plagiarism is offensive and leads to social, ethical, and legal consequences. Although

it may seem easier at times, plagiarism leads to countless negative outcomes. It costs the

individual plagiarizing his or her reputation, finances, and legal standing. Additionally, it costs

the one who was plagiarized the time, effort, and thought process through which they went to

create that work. Finally, it costs industries and businesses millions of dollars. The consequences

of plagiarism are long lasting, and can follow an individual for the remainder of their career. It

can prohibit an individual from continuing on a certain career path or moving into another job

field. When one takes the time to consider these repercussions, it is simple to conclude that

originality is much easier and more rewarding in the long run.

Works Cited
"Copyright Infringement Penalties." Lib.purdue.edu. Purdue University, 2009. Web. 08 Sept.

2014.

"George A. Moore Quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 09 Sept. 2014.

Lannon, John M., and John M. Lannon. Technical Communication. New York: Longman, 2000.

Print.

"Standards and Ethics." The New York Times Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2014.