Is your company breaking any laws? Are you breaking any laws? Do you know the legalities of your industry?
I once worked for an organization that was, initially, remarkably above board. It prided itself on being a standard setter, a new thing in the industry. After a few years, it suddenly changed direction and lost the Jekyll to gain the Hyde. It was quite bizarre, and I couldn’t see why it happened. Senior board members hadn’t changed that much, and circumstances didn’t seem to demand it—we weren’t fighting for our lives here. But suddenly laws were being broken—and I do mean laws. Suddenly I found myself working for a crooked and corrupt company. What to do? I turned a blind eye for a while, but eventually I too was asked to participate in the law breaking. It was at that point I left. I kept my honor and reputation and went to work for the opposition, its rival. Once there, I was asked about my old company and what it got up to, but I wouldn’t give any information that would allow my new bosses to gain benefit over my old company. I don’t know why, but it seemed honorable to sit on what I knew. I was happy to talk about the way they did business, just so long as it didn’t spill over into this area of legalities.
A few years later I found myself working for a company that was taken over by my old corrupt bunch. By now the company had been caught, punished, and cleaned up its act. Did I want to work for the company again? Not particularly. But I did have an interview with a senior director who said he was happy to have me on board—“At least you know how to keep your mouth shut,” he said. The leopard still seemed a bit spotty to me and I walked.
So, how clean is your industry? Your company? You have to know what you might be asked to do and what is legal and what isn’t. Some industries have incredibly minute and trivial laws that you can run foul of almost without realizing it. But realize it you must. To be successful in your game, you have to be cleaner than clean, above suspicion, and never allow yourself to be scapegoated into anything. If your company is looking for a sucker, make sure it ain’t you. Make sure you stay clearly on this side of the line, and don’t stray over it accidentally
If you choose to break the law, that’s one thing, but how awful it would be if you ended up in prison because you didn’t know. Better to be an intelligent convict than a stupid one—“But I didn’t know” has never been an effective defense.
I once worked for an organization that was, initially, remarkably above board. It prided itself on being a standard setter, a new thing in the industry. After a few years, it suddenly changed direction and lost the Jekyll to gain the Hyde. It was quite bizarre, and I couldn’t see why it happened. Senior board members hadn’t changed that much, and circumstances didn’t seem to demand it—we weren’t fighting for our lives here. But suddenly laws were being broken—and I do mean laws. Suddenly I found myself working for a crooked and corrupt company. What to do? I turned a blind eye for a while, but eventually I too was asked to participate in the law breaking. It was at that point I left. I kept my honor and reputation and went to work for the opposition, its rival. Once there, I was asked about my old company and what it got up to, but I wouldn’t give any information that would allow my new bosses to gain benefit over my old company. I don’t know why, but it seemed honorable to sit on what I knew. I was happy to talk about the way they did business, just so long as it didn’t spill over into this area of legalities.
A few years later I found myself working for a company that was taken over by my old corrupt bunch. By now the company had been caught, punished, and cleaned up its act. Did I want to work for the company again? Not particularly. But I did have an interview with a senior director who said he was happy to have me on board—“At least you know how to keep your mouth shut,” he said. The leopard still seemed a bit spotty to me and I walked.
So, how clean is your industry? Your company? You have to know what you might be asked to do and what is legal and what isn’t. Some industries have incredibly minute and trivial laws that you can run foul of almost without realizing it. But realize it you must. To be successful in your game, you have to be cleaner than clean, above suspicion, and never allow yourself to be scapegoated into anything. If your company is looking for a sucker, make sure it ain’t you. Make sure you stay clearly on this side of the line, and don’t stray over it accidentally
If you choose to break the law, that’s one thing, but how awful it would be if you ended up in prison because you didn’t know. Better to be an intelligent convict than a stupid one—“But I didn’t know” has never been an effective defense.