As 2014 winds down we are once again reminded of the lack of ethics and moral compasses in play on our planet; the horrific events that have transpired recently by other humans.
How can we explain what the Taliban did murdering 146 innocent people in a Peshawar school?
A spokesperson for the Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, and said it was retaliation for previous attacks by government forces killing their children.
In Philadelphia, law enforcement officials were searching Monday night for a man suspected of fatally shooting six people and seriously wounding another person at three homes in towns outside of the city.
We can only conclude that these individuals do not have any ethics or moral compasses operating in any manner to slaughter innocent people.
While I am generally a very forgiving person, I cannot on these levels extend any grace, prayers, or understanding to individuals who perpetuated this senseless violence.
Therefore, I implore everyone to look within at your ethics and daily conduct.
Have you built a moral compass that allows you to confront and deal with dilemmas of all sizes?
If the answer is yes, it is really important to consult it daily and sustain it being the best person you can be.
If the answer is no, I urge you to think about your values and what matters the most. These values represent the foundation of who and what you are all about.
Recently, a friend of mine contacted me about an ethics dilemma he was dealing with in his healthcare company.
As the top human resources executive in the firm, it was brought to his written attention by several accounting and finance colleagues that the company had submitted false Medicaid claims and fraudulently received reimbursements from the U.S. Government.
These colleagues not only confronted their ethics and dilemmas but notified my friend asking for guidance and clarity on the matter.
In a phone call with him, he revealed to me a company culture of intimidation and self-serving interests from the owners.
The company didn’t have a code of conduct, had not outlined their values and principles on the web site, didn’t have a Board of Directors, and had not instituted an anonymous hotline to report ethical violations or fraud.
Needless to say, the company’s lack of ethics and a morals based culture was causing my friend serious indigestion as he pondered what course if any to pursue.
After one hour we outlined four possible courses of action:
1) Request a meeting with his immediate supervisor, CFO, and share the written concerns from the co-workers. Readers, do note that the CFO has been with the firm 16 years and one year from retirement.
2) Pray/reflect on the matter, circle back to the whistle blowers asking them for further guidance on the illegal conduct, and communicate available options.
3) Report the fraud to the U.S. Government.
4) Resign from the company.
At this juncture in the proceedings, my friend decided for now to choose option two while gathering more information in advance of a face to face meeting with me.
Sadly, poor ethics and fraud surrounds us at every turn.
No option is an easy one and you should all know that whistleblower retaliation by senior leaders continues to increase exceeding race discrimination cases.
Doing the right thing takes a ton of moral courage and can be gut wrenching in every way.
The way to confront any dilemma is consult your moral compass first. Examine every viable solution that is available and can be deployed.
Be open to consulting an outside attorney and present the facts with hard evidence.
Doing the right thing is a start, but doing your best each day is a practiced habit.
I will keep you informed on how this plays out protecting the name of my friend and his troubled employer.
As we pour into a new year, I challenge every reader to never fear dilemmas in your lives.
Make ethics a priority and never selfishly put your interests first at the expense of others.
Our moral compasses can take us only so far. Our desire and will to make our planet a better place for all to live will ultimately determine our fates and legacies.
We can do a lot better as humans and our time is now. Our children need us to lead and guide them.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and seasons greetings to all. May 2015 bring you peace, prosperity, blessings, and good health always.
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