By Martin Jansen, Owner of Jansen-PCINFO
In everyone’s life there is that time when they have to make a decision that will change their lives. It could be a career decision or a move to a new location. In my case, however, it was a decision to not lie.
The Study
I used to work for a large insurance company in the IT department. I was a team leader having worked my way up from a temporary hire in the world of computer technology – specifically supplying and fixing computers. Our team was officially in charge of secondary help supporting over 2,000 computers and their users.
At the time, there was a team in the main office that investigated possible misuse of company computers. An analyst from that department called my manager to request a “study” of a lawyer’s laptop. What that meant, was our team was to obtain the laptop, pull the hard drive, replace the hard drive, load up a fresh install of Windows, add software and configure it for the lawyer’s use. The hard drive would be sent to the main office for “study.”
Unfortunately, my manager chose me to perform this task because he “trusted” me to do a good job.
The Lie
What excuse was I to make to the lawyer that I was taking his laptop for most of the day? I was to tell him that we found something wrong with his computer and it needed to be fixed. That was a lie.
Confrontation and Consequences
When it came time to get the laptop from the lawyer, I just couldn’t tell that lie. Instead, I told him about the whole scheme to study his laptop and who was ordering the confiscation.
Of course, I went back to my manager to report what had happened and he was not happy. The analyst who wanted to perform the study was incensed and wanted me fired.
A few weeks later I was demoted from team leader to analyst. Later that year I switched jobs to work with data in the finance department.
Done Differently?
Looking back, maybe I could have done things differently. Maybe the lawyer was guilty of browsing porn on the job and should be punished. Maybe I could have gone back to my manager when I discovered my problem with lying. Maybe the manager would have picked someone else on the team to do the job. But maybe I had lost trust in my manager as well.
Overworked and Broken
Previously that year, we had a rollout of new computers by department. I was asked to replace 20 to 25 computers at a time, placing new computers in the cubes and remoting in to install software and configure systems. I was working 12 hour days and weekends for several weeks in a row. I went to my manager for an extension of time to complete the last 20 computers which he denied. I worked even more hours to complete the job.
Afterwards, I would describe my mental state as fragile. I told my manager that he had “broken” me. Perhaps that played into my mistrust of the manager and the decisions I made.
Conclusion
In the end, I don’t regret telling the truth, despite all the consequences of my actions. God writes straight with crooked lines. I am curious, however, with your opinion on this matter. What would you have done in the same circumstances?
Great article, Martin. I guess similar dilemma’s happen to many people in working environments. Money, hierarchy, personal status can be toxic ingredients. But it also has to do with company culture.
In my job, as it happened also in an insurance company, i had to assess a liability claim by parents of a toddler who lost part of a little finger in a playground. The operator of the playground was insured by us. Liability was not the issue, but my job was to discuss with them what they could and could not demand in terms of indemnity (over here many cases are settled without ever going to court or even involve attorneys).
We were in full agreement about past, current and future medical costs, future career and income loss would be limited and not a point of contention, but i noticed there was one point the parents were hesitant about. Finally the father said that the advisor of his bank had told him an indicative amount for pain and suffering. He mentioned the amount and i knew he was asking for way too little.
I couldn’t look myself in the eyes if we would settle for that. I told him i did not agree with the amount. The mother reacted by saying to the father: you see? I told you we should not demand for it.
Both were surprised when i told them the reason why i refused to settle, and that they should put a zero behind the amount that they asked. Then we could talk, with two conditions: 1. Before we would sign they had to find an injury claims attorney to verify it was reasonable, and 2. The amount would be placed in a closed savings account for the kid, only to be accessed when it reached 18 years old (both were not mandatory back then).
When i came back in the office, of course i had to report this. And i was a bit nervous about it. But to my relief my manager found this a proof not only of my own integrity but also for the company.
It costed the company money, and in a different setting it might have had negative repercussions for me too, but at the end of the day it is always whether we can stand behind the decisions we make.
I have been a tough negotiator if needed and in level playing fields, that’s not the point. But there are limits that i think most decent people would understand. And if they don’t, one may wonder what and who actually is the mismatch.