What are some ways to handle it when your supervisor(s) tell you to do something illegal or unethical.

25 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 8:12PM UTC

   You NEED to have a conversation with HR immediately! If you're uncomfortable going to HR, see if your company has a Corporate Ombudsman that you can use instead. I had an occasion to use the ombudsman and they actually started an investigation. Several months later, the manager was taking early retirement, even though his "boys club" sided with him during the investigation. Good luck to you. And yes, going thru the CO is a confidential resource.

2. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 9:30PM UTC

   I'm baffled as to why many still push others to go to HR as if it's not already known that HR will do everything to gather the information a person is running to them when it comes to a problem so that they can best protect their company when it comes to legal matters .

3. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 3:59AM UTC

   No, do NOT go to HR! And even if there's an ombudsman or compliance officer, that's a waste of time at best and at worst would put a target on OP's back.

4. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 8:18PM UTC

   When I worked in senior management for a large company, I once was asked to do something against SEC rules so that a product sale could be booked before the product was ready to be shipped. I refused. Even though someone else did what I refused to do, the "higher-ups" always remembered. I was eventually demoted, and then when "convenient," I was laid off after busting my a-- for 22 years for this company. I got the last laugh, though, because several senior managers ended up busted and some jailed for doing what I refused to do. I never regretted having a clear conscience. By then, I was so disgusted with the "corporate" scene that I did a career pivot into the non-profit sector. The pay isn't nearly as good, but you are seldom asked to do unethical or illegal things.

5. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 9:10PM UTC

   Do you have an ethics department or a legal department that you can contact? These are examples of fraud for which company could be penalized and people could go to jail. If there is no other escalation process, there are anonymous Whistleblower avenues to pursue. Hope you are kept documentation of these requests and your replies!

6. hweinbergerJanuary 19,2023 at 9:19PM UTC

   You can just say “Oh, I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that.” Make it light but direct. They will respect you for being direct and honest.

7. Becca A.January 19,2023 at 9:45PM UTC

   Don't do it and I believe a commentator already shared some great anecdotal experience of being in very situation. What they are asking you to do come across them attempting to make you the "fall guy" when things hit the fan and this comes to light. As I'm sure they made this request orally to avoid any paper trail which is always a red flag.

   Decline it outright so you can keep your integrity and self respect in tact

8. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:05AM UTC

   Don’t do it.
   Refuse to fill out the paperwork.

   Continue to look for another job.

   If you fill out the paperwork, *you* will be prosecuted if the fraud comes to light. If your managers want to commit fraud, they can complete the paperwork.

   Document in contemporaneous notes *kept at home* these illegal requests and your response. If you are terminated, this may help you in filing a wrongful termination suit and negotiating a financial settlement.

9. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 6:59AM UTC

   This is perfect advice. I refused to sign off on a payment of government funds. My boss, a political appointee, told me it was no big deal. I received a call from the top elected official, telling me it was peanuts and the intentions were consistent with the contract. They still fell short of the contract, and while it was less than $25k, I wasn’t about to lie. Eventually, my boss signed off. Given everything other questionable thing she did, yes, that was peanuts. I quit not long after.

10. Kimberly GrahamJanuary 20,2023 at 5:58PM UTC

    I had that happen many years ago and I ran for the hills and got out right away. Be careful.

11. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 6:25PM UTC

    If you are in an area where whistleblower laws are in place definitely do so. Contact your local authorities confidentially and speak to someone in the know. You are complicit if you do not report this and if they get caught you could be held accountable if you knew about this.

12. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 3:55AM UTC

    You need to be willing to move! The only other option is sucking it up and doing what they say.

    You can protect yourself from legal liability (maybe) by documenting your objections in emails, but you'd still be unemployed in a no-jobs area if they got into trouble.

13. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 3:57AM UTC

    I did that with a supervisor who wanted me to ask a non-exempt supervisee to work without overtime on a Saturday. I asked "how would I authorize overtime for that" and she backed down, then later came back with pre-authorization to do it if needed.

    It was one of many, many, many toxic instructions she gave me. Later, I learned that one of my peers's supervisees took the organization to court and prevailed, then got a big raise in order to be non-exempt. And that was BEFORE I'd been told to do the same thing!

14. Valentina Huang, MBA, SHRM-CPJanuary 21,2023 at 1:45PM UTC

    Start looking for a new job. I’m the meantime, document everything that is occurring with dates, times, and actions. And if your supervisor asks you to participates in unethical/illegal activity, decline and say you do not feel comfortable. Just be prepared for the outcome.

15. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 2:04PM UTC

    Be willing to move, commute or find remote work. If you stay where you are you're going to be forced to do something that you don't want to do and it's not worth it.

16. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 2:19PM UTC

    In my opinion, small transgressions lead to bigger ones and this supervisor may be “testing you” to see just how much you’re willing to help them get away with. It will continue to get more brazen and you and anyone else involved will be complicit and likely charged with a crime if it comes to light. You will have ruined your reputation and your career for it. Document, like another poster said, clarify, let them know you are uncomfortable doing these false tasks, and be looking for a new job. Good luck.

17. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 2:57PM UTC

    As someone originally from a rural area, I sincerely recommend relocating if it's at all feasible. More work, more support systems, and just generally more options are available in and around major cities.

    That would have to be your long-term goal, of course. In the meantime, you're going to need to poke around through those few jobs and see what you can get by on.

    Does your community have any family farms? It's not hard to learn to drive a tractor if you haven't already, and a lot of farmers are happy to pay under the table for an extra set of hands in the field.

18. IntentionGirl299847January 21,2023 at 7:40PM UTC

    Remember it is YOUR name and signature on a falsified document. They will deny their own involvement. Get all instructions through email from them and play stupid. "Could you explain in detail what you are asking me to do?" then print those puppies out! They know they are unethical and so on and just don't give a F*** Smile and print! Then turn them in. Turned a drug and alcohol agency in for insurance fraud when I found out they were forging my signature on documents and double dipping. Hell to the no!

19. BethBJanuary 21,2023 at 9:08PM UTC

    I know someone who felt like she had to go along as well. She ended up doing time in prison. Refuse. Let them fire you. They don’t dare dispute unemployment.

20. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 4:33AM UTC

    Don't do it. It is your responsibility and discretion. You'll be accountable for it.

21. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 12:23PM UTC

    Something like this is going on at my workplace. I am on FMLA and heard a policy was instituted. Some of the staff are committing a potential HIPPA violation and I am only hearing secondhand about it. I am steering totally clear of it.

22. Shanita Taylor BSIS, BSc (Psyc), M.A.E.LJanuary 23,2023 at 5:49AM UTC

    Don't do it. As soon as you were asked to do it, you should have gone home and started looking for another job immediately.

23. Valerie RiegerJanuary 23,2023 at 6:17PM UTC

    Don't do it. Never do something that is illegal, immoral or unethical.

    Ask for the request in writing "Shoot me an email so that I have a record of the request." Then reply to the email that you won't be able to honor the request based on the appropriate company policy, governmental regulation, etc. I would copy HR on the email and blind copy yourself. If they fire you you'll have proof of the request and your refusal to commit the act.

24. Liz MilneJanuary 30,2023 at 1:36AM UTC

    ^^^ all of this. No job is worth getting a criminal record or worse...

25. KyleenJanuary 30,2023 at 8:19PM UTC

    Thank you for validating what I already believe to be true. I also know they are capable to falsifying documents and forging my signature. Being out of work is preferable to continuing with this. Thank you everyone for the feedback !