When Maintaining Personal Integrity Crosses the Path to Insubordination in the Workplace

When staying true to your convictions such as honesty and integrity crosses the path of insubordination in the workplace, how do you handle it? The legal definition of Insubordination is Willful failure to obey a supervisor's LAWFUL orders. What if your supervisor asks you to lie to a client? What if your supervisor demands that you execute a process which you know is wrong? Do you risk losing your job to maintain your personal credibility? Sadly, this happens everyday, as we know in every industry! Please comment or share a story pertaining to this subject, and how it played out.....What was the outcome?

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick Bryant on April 4, 2011 at 3:29pm

I dont think willfully telling a lie would be a lawful order, at least not when it got to court, I believe being told to something else that you KNEW not THINK was wrong would also not hold up in court.

Bottom line is that you have integrity or you don't, do you want to risk your career around a boss that doesn't have integrity, that is what a turn is for, let him come lie to the customer

Permalink Reply by NANCY SIMMONS on April 5, 2011 at 9:16am

Rick, Thank you for your input...I am with you on the legal side of things...You just have to think to yourself..."Does it really have to go that far?" Unlawful termination or even just being miserable in the workplace... Perhaps public awareness in blogs such as this will make the reader stop and think about what is going on! It just doesn't have to be this way!!!! Honesty sells more vehicles and retains more happy customers...I would bet my life on it! And the plus side is you can sleep each night with a light heart!

Rick Bryant said:

I dont think willfully telling a lie would be a lawful order, at least not when it got to court, I believe being told to something else that you KNEW not THINK was wrong would also not hold up in court.

Bottom line is that you have integrity or you don't, do you want to risk your career around a boss that doesn't have integrity, that is what a turn is for, let him come lie to the customer

Permalink Reply by Richard Emmons on April 6, 2011 at 8:25am

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."

~ Anon ~

Permalink Reply by Thomas A. Kelly on April 29, 2011 at 6:26pm

What if your supervisor asks you to lie to a client?

Do not.

What if your supervisor demands that you execute a process which you know is wrong?

If it is just a bad decision but otherwise not illegal and does not compromise your integrity, Do as you were instructed.

Do you risk losing your job to maintain your personal credibility?

Absolutely!

I am an old man but clearly remember the day my grandmother told me never to do or say any thing that my parents would not approve of....has served me well.