would you lie
to save your job?

I’d like you to recall a time when you’ve lied, particularly as a child. I’m sure you can remember some real whoppers. Why did you lie? I’ll bet it was done out of fear. Fear of getting in trouble, fear of not fitting in with friends or fear of not being as good as you thought you were. Fear is an insidious emotion that may cause us to justify questionable acts we probably wouldn’t consider otherwise.

What do you fear as an adult? If you’re like me, I’ll predict that one of the top two is job security. In fear of job loss, many of us will do what’s necessary to look out for “number one.” We don’t consider ourselves bad people, but what’s frightening is that often we bend the truth without even thinking about it. We really believe our lies are morally justified as protecting the livelihood of our families.

There are ways we distort the truth that we may not even realize. In reflecting on the Eighth Commandment, the Catechism of the Catholic Church lists “Offenses Against Truth” (CCC 2475-2487); they provide a good test to assess how truthful you are at work:

• Have I contributed to condemning an innocent person, or failed to clear the guilty? That’s false witness.
• Have I jumped to a conclusion about someone? That’s rash judgment.
• Have I revealed someone’s faults to others to make myself look better; maybe for a promotion? That’s detraction.
• In conflicts, have I said things about a co-worker that caused others to form false judgments against him or her, so that more people would support me? That’s calumny.
• Have I gone along with a boss’ malicious acts, such as sexual harassment or racial slurs, just to fit in? That’s flattery or adulation.
• Have I flaunted a success in someone’s face? That’s boasting.
• Have I tried to bring someone down by making fun of some aspect of his or her behavior? That’s irony.
• Have I purposely misrepresented the truth in any way, for any reason? That’s lying.

Fear is a lack of faith and demonstrates a separation from God; “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” (Matt 8:26) When fear causes us to misrepresent the truth, we push God away even more; remember that, “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Originally Published: November 2004