Ethical concerns at work

In the past I have took a stand against justice. I hear it's rather common for some folks on the spectrum to have high morals concerning justice and honesty.

I will be honest and say in the past I tried to race in to right a wrong, sometimes at the own suffering of my mental health due to how much it bothered me and sometimes I broke unwritten rules within society that brought more trouble my way. 

I would take the advice what others mentioned and if it's causing harm to others and your able to make a stand to bring change then do so but just make sure you don't forget about looking after yourself too! 

Hi, I don't have advice. Only want to say that I understand and can relate. I've been in similar situations. What I go by, is that if I ignore it and don't say anything, then I am also involved, because I'm not doing anything. This has back-fired before, in the sense that when I left a workplace, I spoke up when I left about something inappropriate things that were happening. I will continue to see the employer around as it is a small industry, and it can make things uncomfortable. But I remind myself, that if I didn't speak up, then I was just as bad. Of course, this only applies when it's something that is harming others in some way. If I just don't agree, I don't care. But if I say that harm is being inflicted on others in any kind of way, I don't feel right in ignoring it.

Good luck

I know what you mean and it's not easy, but I think it's worth doing, there are lots of ethical business and some very sucessful ones too. I think it's hard to police who you do business with, people who's views you dislike may want to buy your product, I think it's easier in a shop sort of setting to be ethical or too gloss over the idiosyncrasies of your customers, but when you're talking about something less tangible it's difficult, can you influnece the company in any way? Somethings you could just dob them in to the appropriate authority, if it's a tax issue for example you could contact HMRC or horror of all horrors, the VAT dept, there's a minimum wage enforcement dept too.

If its something else, do you have to do business with them? Do they buy your services, or do you buy theirs?

I think living in the times we do it's even more important for people to stand up for what they believe in.

In the 1970s, a design flaw in the fuel tank of the Ford Pinto meant that the tank could explode even in the event of a minor rear-end collision. Ford did a cost-benefit analysis and determined that it would be cheaper not to admit the problem and pay for any injuries sustained than to do a full recall and fix the fuel tanks. 27 people died.

Damojo said:

I can't help feeling but that management in Ford had similar thoughts when they were discussing what to do about the Pinto.

I don't know about this situation. Can you share what you mean please?

Were you in the decision making team?

I get where you're coming from: "We've got a business to run." However, I can't help feeling but that management in Ford had similar thoughts when they were discussing what to do about the Pinto.

Hello there, I'll be direct and blunt as I find this the best way to explain things. Please don't take offence.

McFrost said:

I run a small business and have discovered that a customer of ours is probably involved in something that I find utterly abhorrent. So abhorrent that I can't ignore it.

If they are not breaking any laws then from a business perspective it is none of your business. Leave them alone would be my advice.

If you have a strong moral issue with them then you need to discuss it openly with your business partners, make a case based on the business (not just your own morality) and let the majority voters make the call, but with all parties informed.

I've been there although only as a staff member and the management knew but decided to keep taking the customers money anyway. If you are the owner then you need to weigh up the personal decision versus the impact on all those working for you. Should your decision cost a lot of money then you need to acknowledge that this is on you, and you could potentially cause some people to lose their livelihood.

Morality is all fine and well until your choices start to impact the innocent direclty so careful consideration is needed.

Business is a murky area for morality at the best of times and sometimes you have to consider the greater good and just let bad actors continue and hope they get karma in their own way. You have different responsibilities (ie staff plus your own livelihood) and you need to prioritise these.

In the end if you still struggle then I would recommend getting a psychotherapist and work through the issues with them.

Our moralily can be a millstone around our neck and getting help in dealing with it is no shame.

All the above is in my own opinion so please consider it as such. If I caused any offence then I'm sorry, but I suspect you would appreciate me being direct.

Thanks very much for your response CatWoman. I do feel more these days that I want to just live by what I think is right rather than meekly going with the majority for an easy life, as I feel like I have done until now.

Yes, I get that. I don't expect anything more than a very general answer at this stage. I am tempted to just say exactly what it is but something holds me back. Sorry.

Whilst I understand your reluctance to be more specific regarding what the abhorrent thing is:

McFrost said:

involved in something that I find utterly abhorrent. So abhorrent that I can't ignore it.

Everyone has their own moral compass. I too have a strong sense of justice and have spoke up on more than one occasion, sometimes with detrimental effect on me.

So it is difficult to give you anything other than a general answer. Without knowledge of the deed in question it is almost impossible to give a useful opinion.

Often and I don't care what others think, the most important thing is whether I can look myself in the eye in the mirror, if I can't then I've done bad, if I can then I've done right. To many people don't want to rock the boat and thats how so much bad stuff happens.

I understand why you're being vague, you need to be sure of your facts and not leave yourself open to accusations of lying, rocking the boat etc. I think there are ways of dealing with your plight, maybe try contacting ACAS for advice. Ethical Consumer magazine maybe worth a look, I'm sure there are people out there who can help and advice you, but I agree that it's a difficult one and may lead to you striking out on your own if you cannot resolve things with your partners.

I would always say stick to your principles, but I know it's not easy when you have a living to earn and a business to run, but I do believe it's possible, even if it involves looking for an exit strategy with your existing business.