Workplace Dilemma the Experience Most of Us

Workplace Dilemma

The Experience

Most of us have experienced a few common workplace dilemmas in our careers. I work for a Defense Contractor in the IT security field, and I state that my experience is no different. These dilemmas can range from personal value dilemmas to substantial dilemmas, such as legal issues. Most of these internal conflicts center on issues such as office gossip, negativity, or bullying. Ones that are more serious involve violence or sexual assault. In my experience, I have seen colleagues experience some of these dilemmas, and they have affected their careers very much. However, in this discussion I would like to focus on a specific dilemma that few speak about but that many think about daily: the boss who sabotages your career.

This dilemma simply means that even though a boss may not appear to be "out to get you," so to speak, he or she may do things that will affect you negatively or that will reflect upon you negatively. This dilemma is very personal because it has happened to me as well. Many people who begin a certain career are naive, especially when dealing with a seemingly polite, approachable boss. Thus, one does not note every single action or responsibility that one has in the office, and does everything to please the boss, sometimes going beyond requirements. Though these things are often positive, sometimes important contributions in a meeting may outshine the boss, or may reflect negatively on his solutions. This has happened to me.

At first, I did not understand why my boss did not appreciate my work and kept my pay low even with changes in title. Soon, I understood that my contributions, though valuable, were perhaps too outspoken for my role within the company, and I tried to quiet down, even though I knew that the things that I said were true and mattered, and could change the lives of many people. I also tried to show my boss how these contributions mattered one on one, and constantly prove myself, to no avail.

The Ethical Dilemma

The ethical dilemma I was experiencing had to do a little bit with my view that what I was doing was important and valuable, and that I had to show the company that it was important, but also had to do with the boss' less-than open-mindedness concerning my solutions. Since he was, indeed, boss, he had all authority over me and could fire me at any time if he was displeased with my proposals, even though this was not reflected in my work, so this is why I had to start keeping my opinion to myself and try to play the game his way.

I suppose that in this case the ethics in question were related to moral issues and the fact that my solutions could save the company time and money, but they were actually more concentrated on values: hard work and honesty. The potential outcomes in this particular conflict were related to both myself and also to the company. One outcome was that the company would lose money and spend too much time focusing on issues that did not need focus if my boss did not listen to my proposals. However, due to the fact that I was honest and persistent at a time when I did not necessarily need to be honest and persistent, I could also lose by getting fired. My hard work would, therefore, not pay off, and I would have a harder time finding another job. Or, conversely, I could be fired and my ideas would become somebody else's, allowing that person to benefit from my sagacity. It became apparent, as aforementioned, that I would have to change my opinions to stay in the company.

The Outcome

At the time, however, there were a few other forces at work in the office, and with some visits from other managers, I was allowed to speak my mind freely. My ideas were not stolen and I was not fired, and my persistence allowed me to not only remain at the company, but also be promoted (including being paid more, which I was very thankful for and which I believed wholeheartedly I deserved). My boss also remained at the company and there were a few very tense days when I had to just obey him in whatever he had to do since he had allowed me to have this concession on an important issue, but eventually, after a few group outings, our problems resolved themselves.