Recently the question was posed: Should you ever quit a job over ethics or principle?
In my humble opinion, unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, have Oprah, Trump or Gates money, the answer is a resounding “No!”
You can’t put a price on your ethics or principles, however you also can’t pay your bills with them either. I recommend that an employee never quit a job (unless they meet the criteria noted above, or have another job in the wings), for any reason that is not causing bodily harm- at least, not right away.
However, company activities that go against your values or principles and that you find intolerable, should be used to propel you into a serious job search campaign. No one should have to work in an environment that makes them uncomfortable, regardless of the reasons. Long-term exposure to such an environment can potentially lead to a plethora of health issues.
It behooves an employee to weigh the pros and cons of making a decision that could prove to be financially irresponsible in the long-term, as opposed to enduring an uncomfortable situation for the short-term. Should you choose to leave, here are a few things I recommend you address before making your exit:
- Have a viable money management plan in place.
- Make certain that your resume is updated and secure any commendation letters from clients, etc. for your personal records.
- Should you quit, most potential employers, (unless they are aware of the alleged unethical behavior of a company), will likely side with another employer. Subsequently, they will view you as a potential problem child, once you share your reasons for leaving. An unfavorable perception will likely end your employment prospects with them, as well as with other potential employers. The “Streets” talk in business, as they do in day-to-day life.
- Without a doubt, have a calm, professional conversation with your employer about your concerns while you are actively employed. For one, there is a slim possibility that those in upper management aren’t aware of the problem and will view you as a conscientious employee for bringing the matter to their attention. It’s always in good spirit to give the benefit of the doubt to your employer. Who knows? Your caliber of ethics could be the change that they are seeking.
- Document, document, document and keep copies of every “unethical” incident that you witness. Do this in the event the tables are turned, and the company suddenly wants to terminate you involuntarily for being a snitch, whistleblower, etc.
- Fortunately, your meeting with your employer is now on the record and should there be any finger pointing back to you, you will have this meeting to refer to as your attempt to legitimately express your concerns.
Once you have the meeting, should there be any retaliatory actions against you, i.e. demotion or termination and there are no legitimate performance issues on your record, requesting and having this meeting would bode in your favor should you decide to take legal action against the company.
Hopefully, once the matter is brought to the attention of management, the matter can be resolved. However, if a resolution does not appear to be imminent, maintain your professionalism and consider applying the recommendations provided above.
If you were confronted with this situation, what would you do?
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