week of January 19th--Lying for the boss

[andream]

It happens often in some offices, almost never in others.  Lying for the boss.

From the casual  "Tell her I'm in a meeting" to the more drastic "Tell them  that we shredded those documents last year", there are varying degrees of office misinformation happening around the work world every single day.

This week's questions:  When is a lie a lie and would you do it if ordered  too? what's the difference between an office "white lie" and a major lie and what's your method of knowing the difference, of drawing the line?

And if you were asked to do something you found less than ethical, what action would you take?

Andrea

[supergirl]

Andrea, you come up with the best questions!  How do you do it?!

I should say first that I'm an evangelical Christian, so honesty is not negotiable for me at work.  My boss, on the other hand, sees no problem lying, if it gets the desired result.  This has presented some interesting challenges in our work relationship!  Bossie actually jokes about it in the presence of others.  I think secretly she is proud of my behavior, although it hasn't impacted hers, to my knowledge.  Let me add that the dishonest path has always boomeranged back upon Bossie (to my amusement!).

I have no trouble telling callers or visitors that Bossie is unavailable, even if she is working in the next office.   It's her business who she sees, and she does have work to do after all.  But I won't sign off on things I know to be untrue. Most of the time Bossie isn't even involved, and I just quietly do the right thing.  If it's a major issue, I let Bossie know about the situation, and either she signs off on it herself, or we go the truthful route.  

Now that I think of it, I realize that my attitude actually has made a difference in the way things are done at the office.  Thanks for bringing this up and making me think about it!

[gee4]

I have lied for bossies in the past but using their words, "tell them I'm in a meeting, tell them bla bla bla".  I have never lied off my own bat and never would.  After all I wouldn't lie for my family or friends so why would I lie for my boss?  At the end of the day you are always found out and I won't take the blame for anything my boss has done or has asked me to do.  I will always say, "well that's what I was asked to do", or "I'm only doing what I was asked".

G

[countrigal]

The little white lie (ie: Bossie is not available) is acceptable, and I'm willing to participate in them.  But big things are  a no-go.  I will not tell someone we've done something if we haven't (as long as I know we haven't) or cover-up anything.  But as the other poster stated, it's Bossie's own decision who he wants to see or talk to and if he says he's not available for someone, then that's his decision and I just pass it along.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[paitch]

I used to have fun with this.  I worked for a man who had an office in Scotland and one in England as well as homes in both places.  When people phoned up that he really didn't want to speak to I used to say he was "out of the country" - Well, it was true!  

Seriously, I find it very difficult to tell lies and although am happy with the "he's not available" stance, I would refuse to tell outright lies on behalf of the boss.  

[debby]

I agree with Supergirl.  I am a born again Christian and it has never been  my practice to lie for any boss or staff member.  I will not compromise my integrity as a lie even a "white lie" will usually backfire on you.

Fortunately for me my boss nor my staff has ever asked me to go against my principles and the first time they do I'll be out of here as I won't compromise my initegrity for anyone.

[mlm668]

When I say my boss is unavailable, it's the truth.  He is not available to that particular person.  I never say my boss isn't in when he is - if I'm asked is he in, I simply say he isn't available.  There could be a multitude of reasons that keep him from being available.  No lie there.

My personal philosophy is if you don't want others to know about something you don't tell anyone.  And I let it be known to anyone who confides in me I will lie for no one.  I don't volunteer information, but I will not lie when asked a direct question.  And when I answer that question, I tell only the information that was asked for.  I do this because I learned the consequences of lying at an early age.  And I also learned that the person I was helping with by lying, was only going to look out for themselves when things went south.




Michelle

[professionaltn]

I personally will not KNOWINGLY lie for the boss/other employees/etc. If they do not wish to “deal” with someone, I simply say, “He/she is unavailable to see/speak with you right now. Would you like to leave a message/package or have his/her voicemail?”

*Now, as I’m sure many of you have also experienced, I have (upon relaying the message that the individual was, for example, in a meeting) later found out that they actually just didn’t want to deal with the inquiring person…in those cases, I told the persons what I BELIEVED to be the truth at the time…