I recently finished work on the last significant product launch of my career. The 8 month project almost came to a screeching halt four days before the go live date. It was discovered the product could not be sold in Russia due to regulatory issues. Oddly, this happened shortly after tensions increased between Russia and the United States. It a strange coincidence. Previous product launches never had any regulatory issues in Russia. The product was globally launched except in Russia. Two months later the product is still barred from sale in Russia.
I’ve moved on to a new cloud project with much less visibility, scope and importance. I also picked up a few small projects to help fill my time. I’m fine with this. I’ve made my mark and it’s time to wind down and gracefully exit my career. At the most, I have less than 18 months left to work.
Yesterday, I was asked by a company employee to cover up a major issue with one of the projects I’ve been working on. I’ve known and worked with this woman for almost 30 years. I was shocked and disappointed in her behavior and apparent loss of ethics.
The issue could only be kept secret for a limited time as data collected on the project would eventually expose the problem. The woman was hoping to have the issue fixed before anyone would notice.
I refused to go along with her scheme. Even though my career is nearing its end, I wasn’t going to participate in a cover up which would forever damage my reputation and provide probable cause for cancelling my contract. The woman was not happy.
The woman has refused to communicate with me today. Oddly, the issue is not the woman’s fault but does fall under the responsibility of her business unit. Its root cause is incorrectly written code by a third-party offshore software engineer. The engineer will eventually be blamed, but not the woman.
This is the first time in my long career I’ve been directly asked to participate in a scheme which clearly violates the code of business conduct. I find the woman’s behavior appalling and morally bankrupt. I’m also demoralized by the thought that this woman would actually think I would cooperate with her.
I can’t help but wonder if the destruction of the rule of law in the United States, along with the present day attitude that anyone can do whatever they want without penalization, has influenced this woman’s behavior. I’ve lost all respect for this woman. I know we hold opposing political views but I always respected her professional skills and abilities. That respect is forever lost.
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The Corporate Slave 