The Ethics of Saying No

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  1

  tdd23

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  Saying no and your tax payer dollars.

  Saying no and doing the right thing is especially difficult as it pertains to Government workers. In my job, I am responsible for the allocation and spending of appropriated (tax payer) funds. The most difficult times are those times when I have to come up with a better solution instead of saying "no." It is difficult because the Government has infinite amounts of federal regulations and rules that apply to the use of tax payer dollars. Delivering a "better solution" can take a lot of time and research to accomplish. The time and effort to reseach though, is not the issue; the supervisor's reaction to the wait and results, is. So many times, instead of being grateful that the employee did the research and developed a legally and ethically sound solution the supervisor expresses his/her distaste for the solution presented and is angry that it took the employee longer than he/she wanted or expected. Of course deadlines are important and of course every employee should work to accomplish what his/her supervisor requires, but at what cost? If I am an employee that does my best to make sure I always derive a legal and responsible solution and my supervisor tells me time after time that it's not what he/she wanted and my performance evalutaion will reflect, I am liable to stop caring so much about doing the right thing and instead of saying "no" and/or trying to find an alternate, legal solution, I will do and say whatever will make the boss happy. And, when it comes to tax payer dollars, I know that I, as a tax payer am NOT OK with that. It's not about ego's or about how anyone feels, it's about the survival of the business and legal responsibility. Leaders, both within and outside of the Government need to start encouraging the use of no and alternative solutions. They need to learn to be more flexible regarding timelines and take the time to find out why employee Smith hasn't produced on his/her demands. Better to be a little more "no" friendly than to end up like Enron.

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  2

  LWeller2

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  Give your suprvisor a choice

  You may need to put the option of an inadequate vs. thorough job in your supervisor's hand. Tell them the approximate time frame between an incomplete and professional job. Make sure you do this in an email. Then leave it up to the supervisor to make a decision. Whatever they tell you in person, follow up by repeating what they said in an email. If they ask you not to use email, use it anyway - leave it up to them to "complain" to someone about it or put it in a performance review (it will make them look weird and manipulative).
  
  In other words, use email as a means of covering yourself. If the company also scans email messages, they will get a picture of what your supervisor is doing.

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  3

  sbrennaman354

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  Ethics

  I see where CYA is alive and well as it should be in today's world. The mere fact of using email, IM's, and even voice mail keeps many a manager (and employee) sane and ethical.

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  angiethompson

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  Agree

  I agree, email is the best way to communicate project based assignments, and/or reiterating what you gathered from the conversation, as to what is expected of you.
  
  In addition, it opens the door to disclose your current projects already pending, and where this additional project falls in to play. Be realistic when it comes to communicating when the project can be completed.
  
  Emails can work for, but also against you; so make sure to read your email, before pressing send.

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  sbrennaman354

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  The Ethics of Saying No

  It is interesting to look at teh image presented by the word "no". I do not want tro define it, Webster does a good job of it, but the impact of teh word is judgemental and leaves both parties in a funk (although one my feel rightous). Sometimes we hide unethical bahaviour behind the phrase "it is how business is done" implying it is okay to do so in search of better top or bottomline results. It almost always comes back to haunt you. A better term to define is "ethical" as opposed to leagal. Ahh a totaly different can of worms. Ethics and morals go hand in hand and at one time in our socienty/culture legality was based upon our moral foundation. We are drifting at an ever faster pace from that standard in terms of promoting political correctness and not offending someone or anyone. There is a culprit to be addressed elsewhere. Until we realize that the moral fabric of society/culture is under attack we will continue to have diverging opinions on what is right and wrong; ethical or not.

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  6

  dkincheloe

  05/16/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The Ethics of Saying No

  You wrote: "Corporations do not make ethical mistakes. Individuals make
  ethical mistakes." So, corporations are not "persons" with volition or the
  ability to act as "persons."
  
  And, yet, the entire legal system is built around the idea that a "corporation"
  is an "individual." Consequently, the corporation CAN make, and certainly
  DOES make, ethical mistakes (intentionally or not).
  
  While I agree with you that the Board members and Executives of the
  corporation err on an individual basis, they can also err on a collective basis
  (and the size of the collectivity can vary enormously).
  
  In the same way, ANY organization, including a nation-state, is COLLECTIVELY
  responsible for its (COLLECTIVE) action. We are America, not just George
  Bush.

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  7

  kafrank

  07/04/08 | Report as spam

  Supporting your response

  Corporations are legal entities responsitble for the actions of the employees regardless of position.
  
  As shareholders are pressuring managers to produce profits via the board of directors, the temptation to put in a proposal because the dealine is now--and illegalities or inethical actions are part of this proposal leaves the corporation open to strict liability torts, should they be discovered.
  
  Knowing that there are flaws in a proposal, illustration of the same, is a support measure for the manager--the supervisor can take these to the manager (looking like an ethical hero) and gain additional time (hopefully) to remidiate a proposal that is to be put in writing.
  
  Being "honest" and ethical in today's buisness climate is the most appropriate and profitable course of action in any industry or governmental agency. My vote is that the ethcial employee that is polically wise will have greater job sercurity. Don't trample on your supervisor and avoid being a door-mat.
  
  If your supervisor treats you like a door-mat by taking your ideas as his own without sharing credit for the opservation then this may be the wrong place to work.
  
  If you can find an ethical solution and elimiate potential lawsuits from a plan of action then you are a valuable commodity. It may not go on to the resume, but it will work in an interview.

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  carolinebusinessworld

  05/17/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The Ethics of Saying No

  I think on a one to one basis, we should make our ethical choices. And when it comes to buying products for ourselves we can also choose- for eg Fairtrade Coffee
  However some corporations make "mistakes" which I would consider more as ethical 'sins'. Managers & Directros & people of high influence have a high ethical calling & high level of responsibilties. They are making choices which are the choices of the business, the organisation, thus to a lesser extent making all employees responsible for their choices & the customer too...

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  jasmintflores

  05/19/08 | Report as spam

  Job security vs doing the thical thing

  The government employee did not commit to an action point, only to what needs to happen. Did he make his boss happy without compromising the need for more time for further due diligence? Or did the employee do what was ethically comfortable for him, thereby risking his job? What ultimately happened?

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  R. B.

  10/08/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The Ethics of Saying No

  I have had to say no before. I was put in the position of doing something illegal or of losing my job. I agonized over the decision because I have no other means of support, but I realized quickly, I could never regain my integrity if I compromised. I had initially tried to explain what the law required and was cut off at the knees and told by the division president that he didn't care what the law said, I WAS going to do what he was telling me to do and no one else could rescind his command. But I respectfully said I could not do what he required and I was fired for insubordination. It was a very dark and difficult period of my life and even though it hurts deeply to this day, I'm glad I took a stand and did the right thing. I do, however, wish the laws did more to protect people who are in this position. Several laws were broken upon my termination, but none provided income or restored my job. If restitution is ever made, it's takes a lot of time, energy, income and in the meantime, you're on the street with nowhere to turn. And if the company gives you a bad reference, as mine did, it can take a very long time to find new employment. Because of the emotional turmoil and my total devastation, I didn't pursue legal remedies, though I now wish I could have mustered enough strength to fight. If I could change anything in our current legal process, I would offer more protection for those of us who decide to do what is right and who have suffered unwarranted and costly consequences.