2023-06-13 04:48:25
We often hear about the duty of loyalty to one’s employer. So how can I report my boss’s harassment or my employer’s questionable practices without risking losing my job? – Normand
We received a few questions concerning the dilemma between the duty of loyalty to his employer and the right to freedom of expression in order to highlight practices deemed inappropriate, even illegal, on the part of his boss (harassment, intimidation) or its organization (inaction, non-transparency, fraud).
Everyone is outraged by such situations. At the same time, they have the impression of walking on eggshells by considering publicly denouncing this type of practice. With good reason, they fear negative repercussions on their career or employment. There is of course an important legal dimension to such a critical gesture as public denunciation in the workplace. Not being a lawyer, I will not risk myself in this way.
I will instead take the angle of opposition to authority, the most frequent act of courage in the workplace according to the work of Jim Detert1. It is a broader concept that ranges from less engaging or risky acts such as requiring a valid justification following a refusal of promotion to the ultimate opposition, namely the public denunciation specific to pitchers. alert.
Here is a series of suggestions which I hope will prove useful in such circumstances.
Before opposing his boss or his employer
Remember that legally, every employee must be loyal to his employer, that is to say, act with fidelity, discretion and good faith so as not to harm him. However, a person may consider it his duty to oppose intolerable situations and to challenge his boss or the management of his organization. But the line is thin. It’s all in the way of doing it, especially in a time when social media facilitates improvisation, name-calling and defamatory remarks.
Here are some prerequisites to consider before thinking about openly and formally opposing authority, caution being advised.
- Act in good faith by advancing the cause of public interest that prompts action. In other words, don’t intervene out of revenge or self-interest.
- Document your assertions. Be able to justify the accuracy of what is put forward with supporting facts, writings and figures and limit oneself to the problematic situation.
- Prioritize a gradual approach. Use high-risk acts such as public denunciation exceptionally and as a last resort after having used other means at your disposal (going to see your boss’s boss, filing a grievance, approaching the ombudsman).
- Act proportionately to the problematic situation. A marginal issue (for example, contesting a poor performance evaluation) calls for a personalized approach, while a major issue (for example, fraudulent acts) requires a formal and public approach.
find the courage to stand up
Even after adequate preparation, it is difficult to act. Going from indignation to open and formal opposition requires unusual strength of character. To oppose, we must first break down the barriers of fear, because courage and fear are inseparable. It’s so much easier to endure and not make waves.
You have to see courage as a muscle that can be developed. Here are some suggestions for standing up according to your beliefs and values in front of those in authority.
- Agree to take responsibility. It requires recognizing that it’s time to face the problem and stop blaming others.
- Choose your battles. Clarify the important causes that deserve a formal commitment and those where it is necessary to let go.
- Rally others to his cause. Check to what extent his perception is shared and deserves action. It may be more appropriate to let others carry the message. Some may have more credibility or are in a better position, being less exposed to possible negative repercussions.
- Pick the right time. Any opposition action carries risks. Postponing to take the time to prepare well and seek out allies is not lacking in courage.
- Dramatize the situation. Avoid sabotaging messages in your internal discourse in order to find the strength and the energy to go for it. Imagining what another might do in the circumstances or remembering the justice of their cause.
- Have a plan B. It is likely that any gesture of opposition will be followed by a chain of more or less controllable events. It is therefore important to explore scenarios (not only negative) on the “then after?” “. This will better anchor your decision.
- Demonstrate resilience. To be courageous is to accept being confronted with adversity, since the risks are very real. It may take perseverance.
1 Jim Detert, Choosing CourageHarvard Business Review Press, 2021, 234 p.
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