What would you do if you were asked to do something wrong your job was on the line?
Back in 2005 I worked for a large corporation that I will not name. I was extremely successful at the time, with the largest numbers of my career. All was going very well and I had much to look forward to.
Then I was asked to do something that was illegal. My leader wanted me to align with them and back them up on something that was not right.
I made the decision to keep my integrity and to focus on my personal core values, even though I knew I would likely lose my job.
And indeed, the next day, I lost my job.
Plan for this Compromising SItuation in Advance
What would you do if, tomorrow, someone at work asked you to do something illegal, and your job was on the line?
Questions to consider include:
- How would you handle it? What would you do or say and to whom?
- What core values would you uphold?
- Whom would you reach out to?
- What is your plan, should this happen to you in the future?
I’d love to receive your comments below. Tell me what value you would bring to the table and what you would do about it.
There is no judgment here. My friends, of course, suggested I could have done things differently. Yes, I could have. But at the time, I was focused on my level of integrity, and even now, I wouldn’t change my choices.
Have you been compromised at work or in your personal life? What did you do?