Dear Members,
I work in a mid-size company and am responsible for business development. I was asked by my reporting boss to raise an invoice for a business transaction that has not occurred. He compelled me to send an email to our billing department requesting the invoice. Although I did send the email internally, I personally informed the concerned parties not to raise the invoice as the business had not taken place. To this date, the invoice has not been raised.
On February 11, 2009, while in the office, our CFO called me to his cabin at 6:30 pm and instructed me to take official leave for seven days, from February 12, 2009, to February 18, 2009. The reason given was the need for an independent inquiry into discrepancies in the invoices. However, this information was provided verbally without an official letter.
I was shocked and felt humiliated as I have always prioritized company integrity and ethical conduct in carrying out my official duties.
At present, I lack any records to prove my innocence, and I am at a loss. My 18-year professional career is at stake. Despite raising concerns about my boss's ineffective behavior to the management, he continues to operate within the system.
I am emotionally distraught as I am facing consequences for being honest in my work and dedicated to the organization.
I am seeking advice on what steps I can take instead of waiting until February 18th. What impact will this situation have on my future career?
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
I work in a mid-size company and am responsible for business development. I was asked by my reporting boss to raise an invoice for a business transaction that has not occurred. He compelled me to send an email to our billing department requesting the invoice. Although I did send the email internally, I personally informed the concerned parties not to raise the invoice as the business had not taken place. To this date, the invoice has not been raised.
On February 11, 2009, while in the office, our CFO called me to his cabin at 6:30 pm and instructed me to take official leave for seven days, from February 12, 2009, to February 18, 2009. The reason given was the need for an independent inquiry into discrepancies in the invoices. However, this information was provided verbally without an official letter.
I was shocked and felt humiliated as I have always prioritized company integrity and ethical conduct in carrying out my official duties.
At present, I lack any records to prove my innocence, and I am at a loss. My 18-year professional career is at stake. Despite raising concerns about my boss's ineffective behavior to the management, he continues to operate within the system.
I am emotionally distraught as I am facing consequences for being honest in my work and dedicated to the organization.
I am seeking advice on what steps I can take instead of waiting until February 18th. What impact will this situation have on my future career?
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Outsiders do not know your plight and your office internal issues; therefore, merely guessing will not work in this case.
You are working under somebody who is responsible, and you are paid a salary for the work you do. Your ethical values are not the company's ethical values. This is where you made a mistake; you believe your ethical value is right, and your boss's ethical value is not right, whereas you are paid for following your company's ethical values.
One must understand the individual's role and authority in the span of control as well as the delegation of authority. If you are asked to do something, you must perform that function; what is right is not your responsibility. This is a case of disobedience and insubordination.
Badlu
From Saudi Arabia
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
15You are working under somebody who is responsible, and you are paid a salary for the work you do. Your ethical values are not the company's ethical values. This is where you made a mistake; you believe your ethical value is right, and your boss's ethical value is not right, whereas you are paid for following your company's ethical values.
One must understand the individual's role and authority in the span of control as well as the delegation of authority. If you are asked to do something, you must perform that function; what is right is not your responsibility. This is a case of disobedience and insubordination.
Badlu
From Saudi Arabia
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Rekha,
When you wrote an email to the billing department, did you CC your manager? You could have added a sentence stating that you are sending the email at the behest of your manager.
Whatever has happened has happened, but it appears to me that it was a ploy to remove you from your job. You cannot be unfriendly with fish while in the water, and you cannot remain in a job if your superiors are unfriendly with you. Secondly, it appears that your company is unprofessional, wherein systems and processes are not stabilized.
During the inquiry, your company should give you the freedom to defend yourself. If they don't do this, the inquiry will be vitiated and can be treated as null and void. When your manager had told you to write an email, you wrote to the billing department. So, this is not disobedience per se. However, if your manager has given oral orders and washes his hands off of having done so, then you have no defense.
If they don't follow these principles of natural justice, you can approach the Labor Officer of your area. The Labor Officer will treat it as an industrial dispute and will call both parties to try to settle the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved, you can approach the labor court.
Approaching the labor officer or court is quite a messy and nasty affair. You should be prepared for the long haul. My general knowledge says that in Bangalore, the average labor case lasts for around 10 years.
Ok...
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
When you wrote an email to the billing department, did you CC your manager? You could have added a sentence stating that you are sending the email at the behest of your manager.
Whatever has happened has happened, but it appears to me that it was a ploy to remove you from your job. You cannot be unfriendly with fish while in the water, and you cannot remain in a job if your superiors are unfriendly with you. Secondly, it appears that your company is unprofessional, wherein systems and processes are not stabilized.
During the inquiry, your company should give you the freedom to defend yourself. If they don't do this, the inquiry will be vitiated and can be treated as null and void. When your manager had told you to write an email, you wrote to the billing department. So, this is not disobedience per se. However, if your manager has given oral orders and washes his hands off of having done so, then you have no defense.
If they don't follow these principles of natural justice, you can approach the Labor Officer of your area. The Labor Officer will treat it as an industrial dispute and will call both parties to try to settle the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved, you can approach the labor court.
Approaching the labor officer or court is quite a messy and nasty affair. You should be prepared for the long haul. My general knowledge says that in Bangalore, the average labor case lasts for around 10 years.
Ok...
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Rekha Murli,
From the limited knowledge of this case, I can analyze the following:
You have committed procedural mistakes while discharging duties. In the 1st paragraph, you generated the mail as per your boss's instruction. Why then did you inform the concern not to raise it? In fact, if the instructions for generating fake bills are for the company's benefit, why did you try to stop it? By doing so, you put both your boss and the billing department in an uncomfortable position. You have invited trouble. Now, the official leave, etc., are procedural parts, and the ethics point has been nicely addressed by the above two (Badlu & DVD). Since the records and ethics are against you, the only way out for you is to apologize to your boss and close the matter as soon as possible.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From the limited knowledge of this case, I can analyze the following:
You have committed procedural mistakes while discharging duties. In the 1st paragraph, you generated the mail as per your boss's instruction. Why then did you inform the concern not to raise it? In fact, if the instructions for generating fake bills are for the company's benefit, why did you try to stop it? By doing so, you put both your boss and the billing department in an uncomfortable position. You have invited trouble. Now, the official leave, etc., are procedural parts, and the ethics point has been nicely addressed by the above two (Badlu & DVD). Since the records and ethics are against you, the only way out for you is to apologize to your boss and close the matter as soon as possible.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Seniors,
Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions. I am surprised by the limited support available in our corporate world. While we aim to avoid incidents like Satyam's, we find ourselves caught in the systems that surround the corporate environment.
I am still grappling with the company's ethics. I simply strive to be honest in my work, a principle for which I am now bearing the consequences.
Regards,
Rekha Murali
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions. I am surprised by the limited support available in our corporate world. While we aim to avoid incidents like Satyam's, we find ourselves caught in the systems that surround the corporate environment.
I am still grappling with the company's ethics. I simply strive to be honest in my work, a principle for which I am now bearing the consequences.
Regards,
Rekha Murali
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Rekha,
To put it simply, if you are performing your duties honestly, then don't worry, nothing will happen. Wait for your official leave, enter the office, and act as if you don't know anything about the issue. If your CFO raises any queries, just stay calm and answer. Perhaps the instructions to raise the invoice were given by your CFO.
If you are asked why the invoice has not been raised, explain that you sent an email for approval but wanted to confirm again as the transaction did not take place.
If questioned about why you sent an email to raise the invoice without a transaction, respond straightforwardly that you sent the email based on approval but held it due to the lack of a business transaction.
Rekha, only explain what you know and what you have done. I don't believe this will jeopardize your job if you have a good career record.
To simplify further, if you lose this job, remember there are plenty of other job opportunities available.
Thanks,
Pandey
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
To put it simply, if you are performing your duties honestly, then don't worry, nothing will happen. Wait for your official leave, enter the office, and act as if you don't know anything about the issue. If your CFO raises any queries, just stay calm and answer. Perhaps the instructions to raise the invoice were given by your CFO.
If you are asked why the invoice has not been raised, explain that you sent an email for approval but wanted to confirm again as the transaction did not take place.
If questioned about why you sent an email to raise the invoice without a transaction, respond straightforwardly that you sent the email based on approval but held it due to the lack of a business transaction.
Rekha, only explain what you know and what you have done. I don't believe this will jeopardize your job if you have a good career record.
To simplify further, if you lose this job, remember there are plenty of other job opportunities available.
Thanks,
Pandey
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Rakeha,
I agree with Dinesh; you should have marked a copy to your boss as well. Whatever happened in the past is done; let's focus on the future. Why don't you approach the Managing Director of the company, explain your situation, and seek his intervention?
Regards,
Srikanth
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I agree with Dinesh; you should have marked a copy to your boss as well. Whatever happened in the past is done; let's focus on the future. Why don't you approach the Managing Director of the company, explain your situation, and seek his intervention?
Regards,
Srikanth
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Following Krishna Kumar Pandey's advice, when you have to choose between right and wrong, always prioritize peace. You must acknowledge your apologies to the management in the manner Mr. Pandey expressed.
Partho Ghosh
From Saudi Arabia
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Partho Ghosh
From Saudi Arabia
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Rekha,
By mistake, my inputs went into a new thread.
https://www.citehr.com/146072-ethics...tml#post618136
Good luck.
From India, Jaipur
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
By mistake, my inputs went into a new thread.
https://www.citehr.com/146072-ethics...tml#post618136
Good luck.
From India, Jaipur
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Respected Members,
I tried out all the ways. First, I wrote to the management/chairman of the organization stating the minutes of the proceedings and also apologized, stating "this was done under the influence of oral instructions; I do not have anything in writing to prove my innocence."
Yes, I bought peace by talking to my reporting boss, and then I said I would report at 9.00 am sharp on the 19th. He said OK. When I reached the office at 8.55, he told me to speak to the CFO. I waited until evening before I could speak to him, and he asked me to continue on official leave until Tuesday when they would have a review meeting where the Chairman would also be present, and they would decide on this.
As of now, I presume that I have no other options but to wait until Tuesday.
Everything is surprising to me, and each day I am breaking out emotionally. Each day I come out of the house and spend the whole day on the street, not knowing what exactly life is onto. I cannot tell this to my family, as they will not let me continue my professional career. I am really at a fix.
I trust my experience would be a lesson to a few out there struggling hard for a professional career.
Best of luck to all!!!!
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I tried out all the ways. First, I wrote to the management/chairman of the organization stating the minutes of the proceedings and also apologized, stating "this was done under the influence of oral instructions; I do not have anything in writing to prove my innocence."
Yes, I bought peace by talking to my reporting boss, and then I said I would report at 9.00 am sharp on the 19th. He said OK. When I reached the office at 8.55, he told me to speak to the CFO. I waited until evening before I could speak to him, and he asked me to continue on official leave until Tuesday when they would have a review meeting where the Chairman would also be present, and they would decide on this.
As of now, I presume that I have no other options but to wait until Tuesday.
Everything is surprising to me, and each day I am breaking out emotionally. Each day I come out of the house and spend the whole day on the street, not knowing what exactly life is onto. I cannot tell this to my family, as they will not let me continue my professional career. I am really at a fix.
I trust my experience would be a lesson to a few out there struggling hard for a professional career.
Best of luck to all!!!!
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Looking for something specific? - Join & Be Part Of Our Community and get connected with the right people who can help. Our AI-powered platform provides real-time fact-checking, peer-reviewed insights, and a vast historical knowledge base to support your search.