Moral Dilemma

What would you do to keep your job? Lie? Treat someone disrespectfully? Pretend someone was your friend? Withhold information? I mean, it's your livelihood, right? Your family comes first. Even if your integrity must be sacrificed?

A wise woman told me that "self preservation is the first law of nature." I guess keeping your job could be seen as needing to survive.

A friend of mine just lost her job in a very hurtful way. She had worked there for years and had always done her best. She noticed a change in her compensation on her paycheck. No one explained it to her beforehand, they just did it. When she questioned it, all communication stopped between her and the other staff members. Her questions were not answered. Then one day she reported for work and her key did not fit the lock. That's how she learned of her termination. Well not exactly. They let her work the whole day and then told her. Nice.

My point is that she considered one of her coworkers a friend, and that "friend" knew what was going on and said nothing. Did nothing. She wanted to keep her job.

This is not the first I've heard of employers expecting employees to "keep quiet" and "be loyal to the company." I'm not talking about a human resources staff member. They sign up for that. I'm talking about having any kind of trust between coworkers. I'm talking about an oppressive work environment where speaking up means losing your job. What makes me sad is that this nasty disease is all too common, and spreading.

Lawrence Kohlberg conducted a well-known study of moral development in which participants were asked to give a test to a willing volunteer and administer a shock when the volunteer gave the wrong answer. With each wrong answer the shock intensified. Some people administered shocks until they thought the volunteer died. (they weren't real shocks, but the participants did not know that) Others flat out refused. Where are you on that scale? Would you simply follow directions or would you question authority?

I can hear the other side. "We have to keep the business afloat." "If we're open and honest with everyone they will take advantage." Please, just stop. You can fire or lay off people. Just do it directly. Don't let someone find out when their key doesn't fit the lock or they can't get into their computer. (unless the person has broken the law or something) And don't just start cutting back their hours, finding fault with them, or other indirect and disrespectful methods. Just say it. Just do it.

It's noble to stand up to your employer if you are asked to lie, cheat, steal, or any other behavior that feels wrong to you. And there may be consequences. Or you just might educate them. But in today's economy, many feel there is no choice. You always have a choice. You know the right thing. Just do it.