Ex-sales manager files 'whistleblower' lawsuit vs. W.W. Grainger

A former W.W. Grainger Inc. sales manager has filed a lawsuit against the Lake Forest company, alleging the industrial-supply distributor repeatedly over-billed the U.S. government on its supply contracts.

[Michael OConnor]

I applaud Brian Holbrook, someone from the commercial business sector, with a conscience who knows the mechanics of government contracting and doing business with the federal government. He encouraged his employer to do the right thing and abide by the contract, but was overruled.
Let this be a lesson to others doing business with the federal government.

[Neutral observer]

Sounds like a standard case involving the bitterness of a disgruntled former employee. This suit he seeks to profit from, will waste the taxpayers time & money.

[eja]

Neutral observer wrote:

Sounds like a standard case involving the bitterness of a disgruntled former employee. This suit he seeks to profit from, will waste the taxpayers time & money.

So what? Is he right? If he is lots of people will get their just reward.

[GraingerRanger]

If the alleged charges are true. The Justice Dept needs to also file criminal charges against the executive leadership team.

[Another Neutral Observer]

I don't think you can file criminal charges for breech of contract. In other articles it says the Government intervened on Mr. Holbrook's bahlf. It is unlikely that if there was nothing to this case, they would not have made that move and "wasted the taxpayers time & money".

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and there should be consequences for either side if there is wrong doing.

Nowhere did I read in Grainger's press release that he was fired, bitter or disgruntled. This is a bias stereotype and not fact based.

I also did not read anywhere that Mr. Holbrook was from the commercial business sector, where did that information come from?

[Been Around the Block]

How is it that:

-Every private citizen pays under list price for everything

-And even mid-sized companies get sizable discounts for most of what they buy

-But the largest purchaser of all, the US government pays MORE for everything, from pharmaceuticals to light-bulbs?

It just doesn't make any ECONOMIC sense.

Of course it does make perfect POLITICAL sense doesn't it?

We need to demand that these whistleblower laws be maintained; otherwise corrupt politicians and big-business will continue to get away with this crap.

[BIGDADDY]

Brian worked as A District Sales Manager for the government team and was in charge of the Govt sales team in WI. Grainger and Brian parted ways because of differences in handling personel and customer pricing. Grainger runs on a 41% margin with a 6% profit. They have overcharged everyone trying to maintain that margin requirement! The Govt has a case and Grainger will pay-hopefully the VP in charge will get charged if he is still in that role.
WWG has so much turnover it is unclear what or who is in charge.

[eong]

You speak of the whistle blower getting fired. That usually happens when you report unethical behavior at Grainger. They are only interested in protecting assets, not being ethical. They hire experienced employees that knows how to make Grainger look clean and when there is a slip, they cover it up.

[New Post]

The case details that were filed are online now and Grainger really has the nerve of saying nothing happened?

What a crock of crap. If management was really informed, Grainger should stop denying and start firing managers.

Grainger will settle quietly and sweep it under the carpet. Great, honorable company....B.S.

Grainger should offer him a position on the board of directors and straighten that place out.

[-2 Die Grainger]

Worst company ever. Rip off artists who are only concerned about themselves....and that means the very few "top" echelon Presidents/VP's.

The treat their suppliers like garbage, their own employees like garbage & their customers like garbage.

[former grainger employee]

As someone who exited gracefully from Grainger despite seeing the complete manipulation of employees and the lack of ethics they practice on a day to day basis I believe this ex-employee to be truthful. If it was personal he should cite the grave indifference to treating people like human beings and reference numerous practices they partake in. Grainger is a Corporate giant whose main objective is profit at any cost. They just have the right legal teams in place to protect them.