Question:
Answer:
If possible, try to resolve the matter internally, dealing with your immediate boss and, if needed, other superiors, including the Human Resources Department, if your workplace has one.
If you can’t resolve the matter at your workplace, you could contact the software firm by sending them an anonymous cashier’s check to cover your personal licensing fee as an employee, and without necessarily telling them where you’re working. Your local bank should be able to help.
Working at a company that is committed to breaking the law in this way is not a good place to be, long-term. So if you can’t resolve the problem internally, and if sending anonymous checks to the software company becomes burdensome, we advise you to start looking for employment elsewhere. However, given that you don’t want to needlessly and seriously burden yourself and your family financially, you need not quit immediately, but only when you get a new job.
And, as part of your exit interview, you can charitably let your bosses know that their bad business practices, specifically regarding the use of unlicensed software, led you to look elsewhere for employment.