You've Got to Be Kidding!: How to Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Integrity

Loyalty Can Be Seductive

I was recently presenting a seminar at an insurance company when Lindsay, an accountant for the agency, shared her story with me during a coffee break. Lindsay told me that she thoroughly enjoyed working for her boss and the accompanying salary. She became aware, however, that her boss was calling in late, leaving early, and taking extended lunch hours—and soon realized that these absences were all alcohol related. She also knew her boss was dealing with some serious personal problems at the time, including divorce and a grandson’s terminal illness. Consequently, Lindsay felt great sympathy for her boss and began making excuses for his erratic behavior and unproductive performance. As the situation evolved, Lindsay found herself drawn deeper and deeper into her boss’s deceptions, covering more frequently for his absences until one day she blatantly lied to the company president about the progress of a project her boss was working on.

Lindsay said she never planned to be a coconspirator in cheating the company in any way but that she was gradually compromised over several months’ time. She said she stopped eating right, got little sleep, and, in her words, was “en route to a mental breakdown.” One day, while combing her hair, she “didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.” So she walked into work that very morning and quit her job. Though her shocked boss tried to talk her out of it, she walked out the door that day and never looked back.

Lindsay began to cry ...