Lisa L. asks, “I have just been fired from my job at a small company. I believe in the mission of the company and most of the employees are good people, but my direct supervisor made my life a living hell and I have a stack of emails and other documentation to prove this. I am torn between wanting to tell people what happened, so that the owner will see that his company’s reputation will suffer if he doesn’t do something about this employee; but also being afraid of repercussions against my friends who still work there.
Is it unethical to speak the truth about what happened to me?
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds:
“I believe the canonical principle of subsidiarity may apply here. This principle dictates that problems ought to be resolved at the lowest level possible. The first step is to speak with your supervisor directly. If that is unsuccessful then you go to the next level, which would be his/her supervisor.
“I believe you have not only the right but the obligation to share any information you may have with the owner. However, you do not have the right or obligation to make any of this information public.
“I suggest you create a hard copy of all the documents you say you have, place them in an envelope, and then write a polite cover letter indicating you are sharing this information not to seek anything, but “to let you know what happened.”
“Once sent… LET IT GO and MOVE ON! You have done all you may do in this situation.”
Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds:
“Presbyterianism teaches that It is always ethical to speak the truth, so long as (1) it is ‘the truth, and only the truth;’ (2) it is spoken ‘seasonably,’ that is, at the right time, to the right people; (3) it is spoken ‘charitably,’ and not ‘maliciously;’ and (4) it is spoken to purpose, that is, to serve a good cause, or to do good to others. See the Larger Catechism, QQ. 143-149, on what the Ninth Commandment (‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ Exodus 20:16) requires and forbids.
“The right time to speak the truth about your experience as an employee may have passed. Why did you not appeal to senior management while still in their employ? You are right to consider the repercussions that others may face if you speak out now. Do you have reason to expect a hearing from the owner of the company? Or did your ex-supervisor reflect the character and values of his superiors? I can only leave you with these questions, and remind you that wisdom is given to those who ask God for it (James 1:5, 6).”
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds:
“Reading of this situation has me asking so many questions. It’s hard to give a firm answer without understanding some of the dynamics here. You were fired, yet you seem to care for the employer. Did you leave due to budgetary considerations, but on good terms? Just how would your friends suffer repercussions? I could see taking either path (reporting on supervisor or not) as being justified. Since you no longer work there (especially through being dismissed), you don’t really owe anything to the company. Yet, you could get entangled in something bigger than you imagine. But these are more issues of pragmatism rather than morality.
“But I balance those concerns with the joy it brings me when I learn of the removal of bad actors in work environments. I know from genuinely good people the horror stories that can cause such distress when one is harassed by colleagues, especially superiors.
“Again, without knowing much more about this issue it is hard for be to give the kind of advice that is worthwhile. But one thing I might do is bring your former work friends into the discussion. Do they know how you were treated? Are they treated the same way? Would they be happy with your whistleblowing or not?”
The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds:
“It is seldom unethical to speak the truth, but one must be sure of the facts and clear of the motive in taking this step. Were you planning to report the difficult direct supervisor before you were fired. If not, why are you wanting to do it now. Are you doing this truly because you support the mission of the company or are you seeking some sort of revenge. These are questions that I would ask myself before I moved forward. Final thought, it may be best to move on and put all this energy towards your own self care and energy to find new employment.”
This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up in the course of your day as well as any questions of religion that you’ve wondered about. Tell us how you resolved an ethical dilemma and see how members of the Ethics and Religion Talk panel would have handled the same situation. Please send your questions to [email protected].
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