Honesty is not best policy

I'm honest person. Always follows rules and processes. Always speak truth and fight against injustice to anyone.

All this is causing problem in my work. Rules are processes are meant to be broken because someone needs a favor. Truth is hurtful and injustice is part of corporate decisions.

I feel so out of place and so stressed out

Honesty is always best - my belief anyway. Corporations who lie and deceive will be found out one day. The error of their ways will sadly injure, kill or otherwise hurt others. It is inevitable for them. I'm sorry you are surrounded by deceitful people. Not everyone is strong enough to stand up for principals. Do what you think is best & what you can live with, but no matter what, hold the truth in your heart and try to stand for justice when you can.

The moment we consider our dishonesty from the perspective of those we lie, we recognize that we would feel betrayed if the roles were reversed, so it is a moral issue. But sometimes thinking is such absolute terms will get you hurt. Try to blend in a little.-Chris

The high road is not always (rarely, hardly ever) the path to success in the United States (results may vary by country).

People will lie, cheat, steal, and thieves tend to band together. In order to get along in corporate America, it might be better for you to seek work in a field you really like -- but also to recognize that nowadays even the noblest professions seem to be clogged with "It's all about the money/power" folks -- and "fight injustice" on your own time.

I believe in telling the truth. But I also know that sometimes it is better not to say anything. It may be that when the boss says "I want to know who broke the machine" what he or she is really saying is "I want to know who broke the machine -- unless it was my nephew, the young gal I am sleeping with, the worker I most personally identify with who broke it, in which case I will find a way to punish you for revealing a truth I do not want to be held up to the light because it doesn't please me personally."

I hope this helps.

When caught in a lie, I claim to be speaking a metatruth

It helps enormously. Well said, and true. Unless it applies to my nephew, the young gal...well, you get the picture.

Yes, I do. Where I work people are so afraid of displeasing the petty, sadistic tyrant du jour (because one thing you can count on is a never ending supply of them--just look at history) they'll deny reality, lie about what is right in front of them, and make horses' behinds of themselves with stupid jokes in order not to react rationally, forthrightly and in an adult manner about something that affects their own lives.

Denying reality, Lying about something right in front of them, being unable to see clearly because it is "the worker I most personally identify with who broke it" - - Sounds like you guys work with me.

Interesting points. I keep trying to figure out why a boss cannot admit her "favorite" is a real ______, even when the evidence is right in front of their nose!! These people are self proclaimed "respectable" professionals too.

Stick with your honesty policy. Corporations are not worth giving up your morals for. Too many people have already.

Thanks for the posts.

yup....never love something that cannot love you back. You are better off getting a dog for companionship than deluding yourself into thinking an organization loves you. In some cases, your colleagues may end up to be loveable. But this is often not the case as well. Go slowly, and remember, never write down what you could say -- and never say what you could think.

I am a rule and process follower also. When a new Director started from outside the bank, it was REALLY hard. We are highly regulated and have strict rules we must abide by. And I don't make the rules! He wanted to break every rule, process and policy we have and it was an enormous struggle and I almost quit my job. I was in tears several days. He actually called me "a rule follower" and it wasn't a compliment. We have gotten through it, I didn't give up.

Cloudburst, I have not given up my morals; my boss hates me because I have morals.

I already figured out what these "self-proclaimed respectable 'professionals'" see in their favorites. <shrug>

I don't care what they see. Either someone is decent or he or she isn't. It isn't tied to 'professional' accomplishments, degrees, or who they know.

Water seeks its own level; birds of a feather flock together; it all means the same thing. I know the Master I serve and that's all that matters to me.

My point to the original poster was this: that constantly insisting, out loud, on the high road, is one of the quickest ways to get on the Bad Employee list in the US (I write only from my experience in the US). One can take the high road but one need not constantly announce it on the job.

For me the high road is the one out of where I work. In the meantime, they're paying me and I'm doing a good job for them; I'm being respectful to some truly horrible people and that's the way it goes.

Here's to the pathway that you're currently on. It's a slog sometimes! But...you cannot serve two masters.