Moral quandary - what should I do???

[wanttobegood]

Name change, but I'm not a troll, I could just get into huge amount of trouble if my identity was revealed on this one. Basically my boss has asked me to do something which I consider immoral. It's not fraud but it does mean the company getting money which would otherwise be going to charity. I'm agonising on what to do. My options are -

A tell him that I won't do it, if he wants it done, do it himself - I'd lose my bonus probably, and he'd be very offended ie. no good reference when I leave (very soon, I hope!)
B tell him I won't do it and I'll report this to someone who would take action if he does it, but that person might not take action and might just result in my never being able to work in same industry again
C do it and feel crappy but get a decent reference and still be able to work in the industry again
D ????

Is there no chance of opening a discussion about this with him, and e.g. explaining how uncomfortable it makes you feel, or negotiating a 50/50 company/charity split?

Could you plant the seed of the idea and then make out it was his idea, and point out how good for his reputation it would be, or something?

Or am I just being hypersensitive and actually companies do this kind of thing all the time? I dunno, am jsut feeling like I'm being asked to do the dirty work...

God, how awful, I would stick by your own morals (however hard that might be) you have to live with yourself, you sound as though you are unhappy anyway, is there no other way that you can get out of this? Feign an illness or another pressing work committment? Can you not just outline to your boss how bad this is??? Sorry.

Sorry gameboy x posted! I've tried talking to him - he doesn't agree that it's wrong at all. The charity contribution has been negotiated by a third party and he's trying to find a way to get around it...

I think you'd need to give more detail about what it is for people to be able to comment on whether it is normal or not.

If you feel uncomfortable about it, don't do it. Also, if you agree to do it, it turns out to be wrong and is found out, it's your name which will be in the frame.

The moral dilemma is one which only you can work out but legally you might have protection under the whistleblowing legislation if you were subjected to any sort of detriment as a result of reporting this. You need to ensure you report it in the correct way though.

Can't feign illness as it's a series of things I'd have to do over the next 6 months rather than 1 thing where I could just be off that day... Nice idea though!

ellehcim - hmmm, I did consider whistleblowers, but then thought since everyone in industry would know it was me that blew whistle I'd have to change industry anyway as don't think everyone would see me as the 'good guy' in it, even tough I only want to do right thing.

That's a problem. However the legislation is there to protect in this sort of situation and so if you find you really can't go through with it and you are subjected to a detriment then you should look into it further.

Maybe ellehcim... TBH Am very scared! Partly because aware of the financial impact on my family if I lose my income and my career having built it up for so long. And partly because I hate confrontation. Which is probably why I'm in this situation! But I do have strong values and this definitely goes against them.

Got to go, but will check this thread in the morning to see if anyone has any more ideas! Thanks all replies, really appreciate it, am very stressed about this.

Popped back... Having read up on whistleblowers this isn't a 'qualifying disclosure' as it isn't actually breaking the law, it's just morally wrong... Which is of course very subjective. Really must go now, will def. check in morning.

Does he have a line manager, or is he the ultimate authority at your company? Do you have an HR dept? Or a union? Just thinking you should get some advice from someone outside the immediate situation...

wouldn't tell HR

you're not ina union I take it?

If your boss has asked you to do it then he could deny that he ever asked you since you would be the one actually doing the work. If it is found out you could be sacked.

My advice would be not to do it. You should tell you boss that he shouldn't have asked this of you. If your manager doesn't accept this or it will impact negatively on your references or bonus then inform him that you are within you rights to report him to his manager.

Your integrity and professionalism are critical for your career. Your loyalty should be with the company not an individual in the company.

what about the charity which is meant to be getting the money?

If they have been promised a donation, and it doesn't materialise it will be found out as fraud - have people donated money to this?

please don't do something which you feel is "wrong" - as journey says you would carry the blame and no job is worth that

i am that your boss asked you, but he obviously feels he can't do it

I have read this a few times now but don't really understand.

Are you saying (because, in your words, it isn't illegal/fraudulent) that your company could be legally entitled to the money anyway, it's just you believe it would be better off with the charity?

If it's just a case of your moral compass, then you have to decide whether you can live with yourself, in that job, having not taken any action.

If there's any hint of fraud about it, then you have to take it up with someone I'm afraid. You'd be foolish not to.

Can you whistleblow? Not on imo to ask this of you, shit boss by the sound of it.

so difficult to comment without details, but:-

If he is the big cheese in the company then you are stuffed. You have three choices I think:

(1) if there is a chance this deed might become public knowledge (without you makign it public knowledge) and you would be 'tarred' by being associated, then you really should try to avoid doing it. My tack would be to say that you are worried about his reputation as well as yours, if it ever got out so it just can't be done because you would ALL suffer. If he then goes ahead himself he will always know that you have the ability to 'out' him and you need to use this against him in bonus discussions (he's a slimeball, consider such action fair game when it comes to bonus discussions, but be discreet about linking the two when negotiating)

(2) if it won't ever become public knowledge then I think you are going to have to bite your tongue, do it, leave the job and THEN let if filter through the industry what a low life it is.

(3) Boil the options down to two. Throw a coin and decide you will do whatever is determined by fate. Then go to sleep. If you wake up feeling better than before you threw the coin then follow through. If you didn't sleep or wake up feeling worse, do the opposite.

If he is not the big cheese then report him to the big cheese (and no-on else). Let big cheese make the decision and get your objections recorded in an email or something.

Squiffy, LOL at your first comment - If he is the big cheese in the company then you are stuffed.

He is. And I am. I'm not a member of a union and not in a particularly unionised industry. WOuldn't trust HR, sweet and fluffy as they are, they know who pays their wages.

OK, here's what I've done. I've sent an e-mail to boss saying I feel uncomfortable about doing this, but will do as I am told and bcc'ed my personal e-mail account so I have a copy. I have a reply from him adding more details of what he wants me to do, which are even more dodgy. So if it ever got out and they wanted to use me as a scapegoat, I've got written proof that I only did as I was ordered.

And I'm going to leave the company, will hand in my notice as soon as I've figured out my budget. Any commission I get personally from this deal I will donate to charity.

In reply to some of the queries, it definitely isn't fraud. It's a very special case, but if I told you more details it would identify the company and my boss personally immediately. Anyone with specialist knowledge who knows our company would be wondering reading this whether it was us already, so I can't say any more. I'm just going to get the hell outta here, say a bunch of 'hail marys' and give my personal dirty money to charity....

I truly hate being put in this sort of situation

Is there someone else in the company who could do what he is asking? Perhaps someone who might not have the same moral dilemma?