Higher authority.When it was revealed last week that high-ranking FBI official Mark Felt was "Deep Throat"--the source of revelations about Richard Nixon's White House that led to his 1974 resignation--some critics declared that he had violated the rules of his agency by leaking information to the press. In the workplace, variations on this quandary of speaking out for the greater good happen all the time--often with less than positive results. So the Business Journal asks: Should a person break the rules in order to do the right thing? Melvin N.A. Avanzado Partner Jeffer Mangels mangels Beta vulgaris; called also mangel-wurzel. Butler & Marmaro LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol I ascribe to the belief that there is something deeper that binds a civilized society beyond the laws that we create--whether you want to call it doing what's right or being guided by a higher law higher law n. A moral or religious principle that takes precedence over the constitutions or statutes of society. Noun 1. higher law - a principle that takes precedent over the laws of society , our obligation to each other as a society is not bound to the laws that we function under. You always should do the right thing. Whistlebtowers function in our country as one of the means by which we keep people in check. As long as it's a legitimate whistle-blowing whistle-blowing, exposure of fraud and abuse by an employee. The federal law that legitimated the concept of the whistle-blower, the False Claims Act (1863, revised 1986), was created to combat fraud by suppliers to the federal government during the Civil War. and not something trumped up for publicity, it is part of the American tradition and it should be praised. Meridith L. Weiss Vice President Wells Fargo Commercial Banking Office There is definitely a moral obligation to expose corruption or criminal conduct within an organization, whether that's a private or public company or government institution. The pressure to do the fight thing may seem overwhelming, and it may be easier said than done, particularly when it will result in public scrutiny, but by staying silent you, in effect, become an enabler of the activity you seek to admonish. You have to be able to sleep at night and look yourself in the mirror every day. Larry Powers Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. TrueCycle Inc. It's good we have whistleblowers in this world. President Nixon broke the law and he was called on it. That in itself was a good thing. I bet things like that happen all the time and people don't get called on it. John Desjardins Affiliate Marketing Manager Danni's Hard Drive I certainly admire the bravery of whistleblowers to stand up for what is right. The world needs more heroes like Felt. If it's going to hurt people then I feel you definitely have to do something, especially if someone's life is in danger. That's when I think rules should be broken. I would be tempted to follow in Deep Throat's example but I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I could have done what he did. Mike LaRocca Executive Managing Director Beecher Carlson Ideally, the right thing to do and what the book says will be one and the same. If, however, there's a conflict between the two you should do what you believe to be right. I believe in the words of a former naval officer NAVAL OFFICER. The name of an officer of the United States, whose duties are prescribed by various acts of congress. 2. Naval officers are appointed for the term of four years, but are removable from office at pleasure. Act of May 15, 1820, Sec. 1, 3 Story, L. who said, "In the end it's always about character." Michael Bierman Partner Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP In a military context, if you believe an order to be illegal you are obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to disobey dis·o·bey v. dis·o·beyed, dis·o·bey·ing, dis·o·beys v.intr. To refuse or fail to follow an order or rule. v.tr. To refuse or fail to obey (an order or rule). it. Sometimes it involves risking being prosecuted for breaking the law. But I would hope that if I were in the position of that FBI source and my country were in fact in jeopardy because of crimes being committed by the executive branch, that I would do something. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion