I Think That My Boss Is Doing Something Unseemly.
What Shall I Do?
“When complaints are freely heard, deeply considered and speedily reformed, then is the utmost bound of civil liberty attained that wise men look for” John Milton
Such a conundrum is a matter of having scruples, and knowing how to act upon them, so what does that really mean?
SCRUPLES - A Feeling Of Doubt Or Hesitation
With Regard To The Morality Or Propriety Of A Course Of Action.
Imagine Yourself In This Situation:
You have graduated from university, and this is your first job. You are asked to back-date witnessing a signature to a contract, which would bring financial advantage to your employer, (let’s call your employer, Company A), and a financial loss to another business (Company B).
Firstly, have you understood the position correctly? Are you being over-cautious?
Assuming you fact-check correctly, knowing that what you are being asked to do is illegal, are you going to sign or not?
You may well conclude and justify in your mind that all is well, and that it is not your concern because Company A benefits, and indirectly you benefit. That would be the wrong answer.
Just because all businesses are potentially criminogenic, does not mean that you should adopt the same culture, unless of course you wish to join the dark side…and descend into a dance with the devil…
“If you dance with the devil, then you haven’t got a clue, for you think you’ll change the devil, but the devil changes you” JM Smith.
Questions To Ask Yourself:
- Is the request made by your supervisor/line-manager, and is this in line with company policy?
- Is this morally acceptable for company A?
- If you have a strong sense of right, how will you approach this with your supervisor/line manager?
- What if the line manager ignores you?
- Do you raise your complaint with Human Resources or else the head of department?
- Do you keep going until you reach the owners of the business?
- Do they all tell you to keep quiet and to sign and stop complaining or you will lose your job?
Or, does someone higher, take note and do something about it?
Is Being Right, The Same As Being Happy?
Do you want to belong to a business where they delight in short-cuts for financial gain by all means necessary including criminal acts?
Would you sleep at night, knowing you have done wrong, and justify it with – ‘I was just following orders. I am not personally liable for the actions of the company’?
Is that who you are? Is that who you want to be? Do you want a reputation for having no scruples as to right and wrong?
Assuming you do think that what you are being asked to do is wrong, how will you speak up?
What will be your approach?
My suggestion is to get to know your scruples, and how to honour them as you navigate your journey of self-discovery and ethical decision-making.
Be good. Do good.
Professor Rosen is a solicitor-advocate in practice and principal of David Rosen & Co. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner, a member of the ACFE Advisory Council, a member of RUSI, and the Society of Legal Scholars. He is a former strategic director of the Board of the ACFE UK Chapter. He is a full academic Professor of Professional Practice at Brunel University Law School where he lectures one day each week, including his course on morals, ethics, scruples, and quandaries “MESAQ”.
