CHAPTER 3
When You Feel Pressured to Do the Wrong Thing
by Joseph L. Badaracco
You’ve probably heard the story of the fraudulent business practices at Wells Fargo that came to light in 2016. Bank executives were pressuring employees to create false credit card and deposit accounts. Have you asked yourself what you would do if you were an employee facing that kind of pressure? In other words, how do you handle a situation in which the incentives seem to be telling you to do something you believe is bad for your customers and clients, or maybe even illegal? And what if it’s clear your boss wants you to get with the program—and your bonus, a promotion, or even your job is on the line?
It’s easy to think that these situations are black and white. ...
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