How to Deal with a Questionable Request from the Boss

Boston MA

16 December, 2020

7:30 AM

Description

Your boss sends you an email request. You read it and realize that what they are asking of you just doesn't sound right. It might you make feel uncomfortable, in that it is possibly unethical or even illegal. You know your boss is under a lot of pressure and is feeling the heat. Right now they are fighting to keep their job and are desperate to save themselves. What do you do? "The first step is not to rush into a quick decision," said Alan Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer of NTI, a nonprofit organization that helps Americans with disabilities find work-at-home jobs in call centers. "You want to make sure you understand the situation and what is being asked of you. Take yourself out of the environment so you can think clearly. There could be severe consequences if you say yes right away, so fend off the pressure to make a hasty decision." Once you have gotten away from your boss, take time to think about it and more fully understand what is being asked. Does it make you uncomfortable or is it illegal? Find a person you truly trust to discuss this with. While your immediate instincts may be right, hearing the perspective of someone not involved can help you think it through. "Prepare questions for your boss to ensure you understand what is being asked," said Hubbard. "If you think the request is illegal, unethical or makes you feel uncomfortable, explain to them how it looks to you. Hearing it from your perspective may cause them to see it in another light and go in a different direction." Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author, suggests different ways to ask the questions. One option is to ask for the request to be repeated, and then paraphrase. "I want to understand this a little better," said Taylor, in a recent Business Insider interview. "Are you saying you don't want me to document XYZ for the Jones account?' 'Why do you want to do this?' 'Wouldn't that be inconsistent with our normal practices?' See where that leads." Taylor says not to wait too long to have the discussion with your boss, or else you may seem unresponsive. Once you have enough facts and are ready to start the conversation, Taylo says it should be a "mutual brainstorm" session. "If you determine what you are being asked is illegal and/or unethical, you want to make sure you are documenting everything to protect yourself," said Hubbard. "You don't want to hurt your professional reputation. There could be possibly repercussions from your decision, and you want to be safe and keep your job." Your next step could be to go to management or the human resources department to let them know. You might also want to consult with an employment lawyer to protect yourself if you become a "whistle blower." That's why it is important to make sure your responses are saved, written simply and carefully. This is not the place to make accusations and threats. "Whether you are agreeing to the request or turning it down, you need to get right to the point and don't be wordy," said Hubbard. "You want your response to be clear and right to the point." If you go forward with the request and the worst happens, you'll need to know your legal rights. "You could end up in a lawsuit or even jail, if your boss is involved with something nefarious," said Taylor. "Just because you were obeying your manager's orders will not provide a defense. On the flip side, don't get aggressive in response and bully back. It won't get you the results you want by going on the offense. Stay in control." You should also understand this might mean you will have to leave the company. "This is where you have to decide whether you want to continue working for the company," said Hubbard. "You should be conscience of your own professional reputation. That is something you don't want to risk." (A national nonprofit organization based in Boston, MA, NTI@Home helps Americans with disabilities find work in call centers for government organizations, Fortune 500, and large and small businesses. Disabled people and their caretakers can register for free training and job placement services at www.ntiathome.org.)