The Delicate Dance of Dissent: When to Escalate Concerns Above Your Boss
The workplace is a complex web of relationships and hierarchies, and at times, you may find yourself in a position where your values or the well-being of the company are at odds with the actions or decisions of your immediate supervisor. The feeling of going over your boss’s head can be akin to betrayal, but there are circumstances where it is not only justified but necessary.
When to Take the Leap There are specific instances where escalating concerns above your boss is warranted.
- Illegal Activities: If your boss is involved in illegal actions such as embezzlement or violating labor laws.
- Harassment or Discrimination: If you are facing harassment or discrimination of any kind.
- Ethical Violations: If there are unethical practices that go against the company’s principles or your own moral compass.
How High Should You Go?
The level to which you escalate your concerns should be proportional to the severity of the issue. For legal or ethical violations, it may be necessary to go as high as the company’s ethics committee or even external authorities. For less severe issues, consider addressing it with your boss’s immediate supervisor or the human resources department.
Feeling Like a Betrayer
The feeling of betrayal when going over your boss’s head is natural. It’s a step that can strain or even sever the relationship with your supervisor. However, remember that your allegiance is to the principles of the organization and your own integrity. Protecting the company and its employees often requires tough decisions and actions.
What If No One Listens?
If you’ve escalated your concerns and still feel unheard, it’s important to persist. Here are some steps you can take:
- Advocate for Yourself: Be clear and assertive about your concerns. Ensure that you’re heard without being confrontational.
- Document Everything: Keep records of all relevant interactions, decisions, and evidence related to your concerns.
- Seek Allies: Find others in the organization who share your concerns and can lend their voice to the issue.
- External Avenues: If internal channels fail, consider external options such as whistleblowing, depending on the gravity of the situation.
Going over your boss’s head is a serious decision that should not be taken lightly. It requires a careful assessment of the situation, understanding the potential repercussions, and a commitment to the values you stand for. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that the organization upholds its principles and provides a safe and ethical working environment for all.
What if you are frustrated about something and while you believe you have all the needed information you don’t? What do you do then?
It depends on the information you have that you can validate. If you are confident and willing to take a risk because something either violates your principles or your organizations, you have to make a decision. You may consider that actions taken by you at this point could end your job.
If something is happening and you are witness to it and you don’t say something or raise a flag, this also can end your job.
Maybe it is more obvious and clearer.
My Boss is THE BOSS
No matter what company you work with, you are an independent contractor.
Let me say that again. I’d like you to have some clarity here.
You are a contractor. As an employee, you have a contract with an employer. Your contract is legal and binding to the extent that it benefits the employer and you. If at some point either of you do not benefit from the contract, you separate.
In some states, separation, terms and conditions become more complex for either party. At the end of the day, you are providing services to an organization that compensates you for your time and service.
You are always, the boss of you. You are always in charge, and you are always the decision maker.
Consider this, the moment your services are no longer needed, you are released. On the other hand, if you didn’t require the job, it is possible that you would not stay. While this is not always the case, it is likely that you would not stay in a job that you did not like if you didn’t feel a need.
You are the boss of you. You are the decision maker. You are the decider. You have control over you and options. If someone violates your principles, they disrespect you or someone else, they make decisions that you do not agree with or you have problems with from an ethical or moral perspective. You have to decide on what actions to take. If you choose to do nothing, you have made a choice. You can’t live in a superposition of decisions at all times.
Beyond this, it would appear to be intolerable, disrespectful, unnatural, and totally unacceptable to go above the person you report to. While traditionally this would be true, we are living in a business world where we are recognizing individuals’ contributions and uniqueness. It is much more likely that young people joining the workforce will have an expectation of their voices being heard and recognized.
What are the boundaries of presenting oneself ideas, thoughts and perceptions?
What are the boundaries if someone believes an organization or person is doing something wrong?
Something to think about!
As a leader, how would you feel about it?
Do you create an environment for open communication?
Happy Sunday!
The Cohenization Project 