Integrity? What’s that?
By: Ritika P
Tags: Integrity, Culture, Productivity, Employment, Workplace

My Take on Maintaining Integrity in the Workplace

A Scene from Persepolis. Source: FilmLeaf

Regardless of whether you consider yourself a person with integrity or not, do yourself a favor and watch Marjane Satpari’s book adapted into the film, Persepolis. Amidst the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution, Marji is subjected to radical changes that took place in Iranian society at the time.

One line which has stuck with me till today was: “You have a choice! Everyone has a choice. What have I taught you? INTEGRITY!” Taking Marji’s amazingly progressive (you’ll see how) grandmothers’ words as my template, I set out into the business world in San Francisco, in 2015.

I’ve been laid off (as is the norm in the Silicon Valley), have voluntarily quit, and have jumped job positions quite often. While this may make any seasoned business professional cringe from their cushy ivory tower, I’m not here to explain myself. I’ve had varied experiences that I am very proud of. Now, I am looking to share my knowledge, through my writings. Here’s my take on what I think one can do to maintain their integrity, whether you’re an employee or run your own business:

Take responsibility. Do not attempt to conceal your mistakes at work. If you’ve made an error, let those involved know immediately. Hiding your mistakes will only shrivel up your integrity because most often the other party knows you’ve made a mistake. It’s just messy and embarrassing if you don’t come clean. Your Manager is your biggest advocate. SO- If you feel that you are working for a dishonest manager, start looking for a new job, immediately. Complaining to HR will unfortunately only get you into trouble. Not everyone has your back in the workplace. If you’re looking to quit your job, do so with confidence and with vagueness. “I’d like to quit for personal reasons,” works just fine. Often times, I’ve gotten myself into the spiral of providing feedback to improve an organization, and have found that its not the best exit strategy. Trust me, they’ll want to hear feedback. That doesn’t mean you should freely dispense your opinions. Just get out, unscathed. If you somehow find out that your previous organization is trying to malign you/spread false rumors (including a workplace romance) about you after you quit, do nothing. People should know that talking smack about their ex-coworkers, without letting them have a chance to defend themselves, is not only moronic- but vicious. Those who have questions will come to you, your friends will know your character and will be on your side. Moreover, karma is the best form of revenge. Therefore, do nothing. There’s only so much an angry fist can accomplish. If someone at work is making you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, it is NOT your job to set them right. That’s the reason for the existence of HR departments. If this person is your manager, however, I would advise refraining from complaining and just try to make your exit. In the event you are a part of a mass layoff, don’t immediately accept all the terms in your severance package. Let the terms marinade for a few days (there’s no rush) and ask for a much higher amount than what they provide for severance. Let them know that they won’t be able to get away with this easily (seek counsel in some instances). As a footnote to the previous point, if an organization is having you say that you are voluntarily resigning when you were actually let go, PLEASE VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE. You will not be entitled to government-funded unemployment benefits in the United States if you voluntarily quit a job. Stay accountable to the good people at work, by maintaining utmost transparency. If you are unable to make a deadline, let your team know what’s going on. Be specific. Don’t give them the BS excuse of “I have a lot going on.” Trust me, the person next to you (or across from your screen) is probably in the same boat. Especially in these difficult times.

My former coworker and friend, Sharon Kelly, has advised me that integrity should be universal. Meaning that one shouldn’t do anything different (integrity-wise) in the workspace as one does in their everyday life. Your integrity should be a part of your core self.