One of the easiest ways to keep your job is to just do what you’re told. Follow your boss’ instructions, abide by the rules, and you’ll likely have job security for a long time. But what should you do when your boss is the one encouraging you to bend the rules?
One worker recently posted a story on Reddit detailing how their boss tasked them with falsifying data to make their department appear more impressive. But instead of blindly agreeing, they decided to follow their moral compass. Below, you’ll find all of the details, as well as some of the replies amused readers shared.
Bosses are typically responsible for making sure that all of their workers follow the rules
Young woman in black shirt holding a patterned mug while talking on the phone about fudging data for department results.
So when this employee was asked by their boss to falsify reports, they immediately knew that would be a bad idea
Text excerpt about boss requesting to fudge data and consequences for department, emphasizing report falsification.
Text discussing a boss’s request to fudge the data to make their department’s performance look better.
Text excerpt about unethical boss’s request to fudge data and potential backfire consequences explained clearly.
Two colleagues analyzing charts and data reports at a desk, discussing data fudge to improve department results.
Text excerpt about completing a report accurately and saving emails, related to boss’ request to fudge data consequences.
Text about leadership noticing data discrepancies after boss requested to fudge the data to improve department results.
Text excerpt highlighting written evidence used to expose data fudging by a boss to improve department performance.
Stressed woman with long hair frustrated by data issues, sitting at a desk with laptop and notebook.
Text on a plain background that reads: Later, she was gone. Officially, she resigned, but everyone knew it wasn’t voluntary.
Text on a white background about not raising voice and letting a boss take the fall for manipulating truth in a department.
Rules in the workplace are there for a reason
Two employees working on laptops in an office pod with blurred coworkers walking by, illustrating data fudging consequences.
The vast majority of the time, following instructions in the workplace is crucial. Picomto notes that rules are often in place to ensure that the quality of our work is adequate. Issues can quickly snowball when employees aren’t all on the same page about how to do their work, so it’s important that we follow guidelines closely.
In the same vein, safety can become a huge problem in many workplaces when rules aren’t followed. Even if a rule doesn’t make sense to you, it is in place for a reason. And there is rarely a reason to stray from a system that’s worked for years.
Productivity can be greatly impacted when rules aren’t followed as well. There’s a good chance that managers before you have perfected their methods, and you’ll just have to trust that they’ve found the most efficient way of getting the job done. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions or make suggestions, but it’s usually not a good idea to go rogue.
There are, however, sometimes special circumstances that might require you to bend your boss’ rules. For example, ZipRecruiter says you don’t have to listen to your manager when they’re demanding that you do something unethical or illegal. You may be on the clock, but you can still let your moral compass guide you.
You can also hesitate on following your boss’ instructions if you need clarification on exactly what they want. It’s better to wait and ask questions than plow ahead and make a costly mistake.
You’re not obligated to follow instructions if you’re asked to do something unethical or illegal
Two women discussing data and workplace challenges in an office setting, highlighting issues with fudging data.
Or if you receive different instructions from another superior who is above your boss , you should probably fulfill their request instead. You can bring it up to your manager and address the fact that you’ve received conflicting instructions. But at the end of the day, it’s usually best to listen to whoever is highest in the chain of command.
If you do happen to find yourself in a situation where your boss has asked you to do something unethical, the Independent has a few suggestions for how to respond. First, they recommend asking clarifying questions to ensure that you understand exactly what your boss is asking of you. Don’t leave anything up to interpretation.
If you’re certain that they’re asking you to do something that you don’t feel comfortable with, you might want to complain to HR, a compliance officer or anyone else in your company who handles this type of issue. But first, consider whether or not they’ll actually want to hear this complaint.
Bryan Stikeleather, a professor at the University of South Carolina, warns that, “Any time the firm’s senior management is financially benefiting from the misconduct, they may not want to know that it is occurring,”
It’s also wise to consider the risks of exposing this information. It may blow back on your career or the entire company. You could be seen as a whistleblower or a snitch. Is that a risk you’re willing to take? If not, it might be time to simply move on and find a new job.
Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing the risks of fudging data and unethical requests from bosses.
Many readers applauded the employee for their brilliant revenge
Screenshot of a text comment about properly practicing CYA in response to a boss’s request to fudge data.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment advising not to fudge data to make a department look better to avoid consequences.
Text comment on a screen discussing integrity with a focus on boss request and data fudging consequences.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising the original poster amid a discussion on fudging data in a department.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing a boss’s request to fudge data to improve department results.
Text of a user warning about unethical requests to fudge data and advising to involve a company lawyer for protection.
Reddit comment criticizing a boss’s request to fudge data and the consequences faced after making the department look better.
Comment on a forum in a simple interface, discussing smart moves related to data fudging consequences.
Text message conversation on phone screen highlighting request to fudge data to improve department results, causing issues later.
Screenshot of a comment discussing consequences of fudging data to make a department look better.
Screenshot of a forum comment discussing boss’ request to fudge data to improve department results.
Some even had similar stories of their own to share
Alt text: Employee refuses boss’s request to fudge data and wins legal battle after wrongful termination from large municipality.
Alt text: User sharing experience with boss’ request to fudge data leading to legal trouble and professional consequences.
Comment describing a boss’s request to fudge data about safety measures that ultimately backfires.
Comment describing a boss’s request to fudge data in shipping and receiving to falsely boost sales numbers, leading to consequences.
Screenshot of a user comment sharing experience about refusing to fudge data for better insurance ratings in a fire department.
Comment sharing a story about a boss’s request to fudge data in a lab and how it backfired on her.
Comment about boss’ request to fudge data for slides, refusing to lie and choosing to present truthful information instead.
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