What Would You Do If Asked to Do Something Illegal, Immoral or Against Your Beliefs by Your Boss?

I've stated several times before that your career is your most important financial asset. As such, you need to manage it carefully, because doing so can make the difference between a good life and one of barely getting by. But because so much rides on your career, anything that endangers it is a very, very serious matter.

So consider these scenarios. What would you do if your boss asked you to:

• Do something that was illegal (maybe order the dumping of some toxic materials).
• Do something that was immoral (tell a lie about an important matter.)
• Do something that was against your personal beliefs (fire a capable employee simply because the boss didn't like him personally)

So, your job is on the line, it could impact your whole career if it goes poorly, your family is counting on your income, and your boss asks you to do something like the items listed above. What do you do?

I've never been asked to do something illegal or immoral, but I have asked to do something against my personal beliefs. Here are the details:

My boss hated one of my key employees. This particular employee was a good amount over-weight and my boss was over-weight as well. I think the employee reminded the boss of himself and his own challenges to control his weight. Anyway, the boss wanted me to fire this employee. I asked why (the employee was one of the best ones I had, in my opinion.) My boss really couldn't give a reason the employee should be let go -- but he still wanted him fired. I convinced the boss instead to let me write up the employee (he did have some legitimate areas of opportunity in his development -- who doesn't) to get his bad performance documented. And since our company had a lengthy dismissal process, I was hoping my boss would change his mind during the time the process advanced.

It was like walking a minefield for several months while I balanced the situation, but eventually the employee met our expectations and my boss moved on to other issues. But the handwriting was on the wall for me -- my boss had asked me to do something I felt was wrong and I refused. A few months later I moved on to a new position myself, knowing my time was short there one way or the other.

I was reminded of this story last week because I just got an email from that employee. He lasted almost four more years after I left but was recently let go in a "restructuring."

Anyway, have any of you ever faced situation like this (or worse?) What have you done? And if you haven't, what would you do if you did face such an issue?

Comments

[Minimum Wage]

I've never had to deal with it but I wouldn't do it and I'd walk. Of course, it's a LOT easier for me to say and do that because minimum wage jobs generally aren't too hard to find.

[plonkee]

If I'm truly honest, if it was something that was in a grey area (rather than completely outside the boundaries) I'd probably at least consider doing the wrong thing. But I know what I should do. I think the thing for me to remember is the mere fact of being asked to do one of these things means that this isn't the long-term job for me, whether I like it or not.

[GeckoGirl]

I've had two situations that come to mind. In the first situation, it helped that I had another employee on my side. We were being asked by a supervisor to distribute inaccurate information. We went to the manager and told her the information wasn't correct and we would not distribute it. She allowed us to recuse ourselves. I suspect she went along with the misinformation but our hands were clean.

In the second situation, I was asked by the same supervisor to circumvent process. My response to was to let him know why I wasn't comfortable doing what he asked (via e-mail) and cc'ing all appropriate parties. Once again, my hands were clean and he was not allowed to circumvent the process.

[plonkee]

Another thing. To me, no.s 2 and 3 are the same thing. If I think it is immoral, then it is against my personal beliefs, and if it is against my personal beliefs then I think it is immoral. Am I missing something?

[Jeff]

If it was illegal or immoral I would not do it. Absolutely, no. If I lost my job over that, well, at least I am not ashamed of my actions.

However, if it was something like firing someone the boss didn't like...that would be a much more difficult decision. The chances are that someone else would fire him if I refused. Life is not fair.

- Jeff

[rdub98]

I am lucky in that I have never had to deal with any of those situations. The companies that I have worked for have been very above board. However, I would never compromise my principles for the sake of the company making more money or cutting corners. And there is absolutely no way that I would do something illegal. For ANYONE.

[CreditWithdrawal]

I take the view that "Every job is a stepping-stone to a better job". In this day and age, no job is permanent. You should be prepared to make a move if necessary, not actually actively looking, but always aware of the environment and demand. If the job gets too unbearable, life's too short to stick around.

Doing something illegal can have PERSONAL repercussions (you pay the fine or go to jail) and doing something immoral but technically legal can sour your experience for the job or work, so you might as well get out anyway.

Good businesses don't need to do either illegal or immoral actions, and if your company does, maybe it's not the company to be at anyway.

[Paco]

I stayed with a job after I was asked to do something immoral, which toed the line of being illegal. I couldn't walk out that day, but I knew right that moment that I was done with that job. 2 months after the incident I tendered my resignation. I had to take a big pay cut, but my new position is much more satisfying in every respect, plus I no longer have the stress of potentially being a named defendant in a lawsuit. That is worth every penny of my pay cut.

[Lynnae]

I've faced this before. In my case, I was working under a special education teacher, and she started "treating" the autistic kids by "moving their energy fields". As a Christian, I was not at all comfortable with that, and I knew that at least one of the kids' parents would not be comfortable with that either. I went to my supervisor and asked that I be removed from that situation. I also asked him to send home permission slips for this, as I didn't feel this was something all of the parents would approve of.

In the end, I got what I wanted. Maybe it was that I was young and felt invincible, but I never considered the long term ramifications.

[Penny]

Yes on more than one occasion. Early in my career I resigned from the a job without giving the real reason as I didn't want to call the very religious owner a liar and hypocrite to his face. While he prided himself on being a good Christian, he directed me to charge more than we normally would to anyone from his church or who wore a crucifix! The second time I was able to gracefully resign from a position without confronting the owner on his illegal practices as my significant other accepted a job in another part of the state. I actually liked the owner but didn't appreciate the financial hijinx and didn't want to be implicated in future legal proceedings that were likely to come. The third time was a general manager who directed me to do some things that I felt were highly unethical. I refused and he threatened my job. I called his bluff but was fully prepared to walk even though it would have been a financial disaster. He figured that since I was in a difficult position financially, I'd do anything to keep my job. When he realized I wasn't kidding and was fully prepared to leave, he backed down. He ended up losing his job a couple of years later and was never again able to get hired for an executive-level job. Fortunately, I went on to work for more ethical employers.