Dear Bogey,
I am a recent college graduate who just started my dream job a little less than three months ago. I absolutely love working for this company and have made some great friends along the way. My manager has been asking me to help her steal money for a couple of weeks now. I know that it is wrong of me to help her, but I don’t want to lose my job by refusing to help her steal money for her personal benefit. Bogey, should I turn in my manager to a higher-up official in the company or just continue to do what she is asking me to do, in hopes that she eventually stops asking me to assist her with these actions?
Sincerely, Loyal Worker
Dear Loyal Worker,
Thank you for coming to me for advice on this very sensitive topic. While this may feel like a tough situation, it seems to me that the answer is quite clear. If you truly value your job and love working for the company, you must do what is best for the company and the future of your career with them. Your boss is not the highest superior at this company, and what they are doing is morally wrong. You should never force yourself to go against your ethical beliefs based on another’s request of you. I honestly believe the best route of action is to report your manager to the higher-ups and inform them that you would like to remain anonymous.
While the answer is clear on what you must do in order to protect your position and the company from a corrupt boss, it is also key to understand the power imbalance between you and your boss. In workplaces, there is a built-in power imbalance in supervisor-subordinate relationships, and research has found that when there is an abusive supervisor (such as your boss), employees are more likely to become defensive by going silent (Lam & Xu, 2018). I know it is tempting to follow that same pattern, but the abuse from your boss requesting you to go against the law will not end unless you speak up.
Another important thing to remember through this process is that you have coworkers who are your friends, and you can depend on them for support during this stressful time. Communication experts have found that friendships in the workplace provide many benefits, including being a reliable source of emotional support and sharing information (Floyd, 2021). If you feel comfortable confiding in one of your coworkers about your boss’s request for your assistance in stealing money, they could possibly share some information about your boss that you will need to report to the higher-up superiors. Also, your coworkers may have been in the same position in which the boss has made similar requests of them. Furthermore, your coworkers may have witnessed your boss stealing and could go with you to report your boss to the higher-ups of the company, making you more credible.
Remember that you can receive emotional support from your coworker friends, as they are likely to empathize with you and understand the stress you are in due to the shared work environment and experiences (Floyd, 2021). The literature on coworker friendships has a long list of benefits, and one study found the most benefits occur when friends share and collaborate toward common goals (Morrison & Nolan, 2007). This finding may be beneficial for you as you reach out to coworkers and gather a support network to assist you in reporting to the higher-ups and ensuring the security and well-being of the company.
To recap what I believe is your best next step, try confiding in your coworker friends if you feel comfortable with them and that they are trustworthy people. Next, if you confide in some of your coworkers, you should gather all the evidence you have to build a strong case for what your boss is doing wrong. Once you feel confident, take the information you have to the higher-ups in the company and report it to your boss. All in all, trust your gut, and know in your heart that you are doing the right thing and that due to your moral compass, things will work in your favor.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Bogey D. Bearcat.
References
Floyd, K. (2021). Interpersonal communication. (4th Ed). New York, NY. McGraw-Hill.
Lam, L. W., & Xu, A. J. (2018). Power imbalance and employee silence: The role of abusive leadership, power distance orientation, and perceived organisational politics. Applied Psychology, 68(3), 513-546. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12170
Morrison, R. L., & Nolan, T. (2007). Too much of a good thing?: Difficulties with workplace friendships. University of Auckland Business Review, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.947504628198232
