Which is more important, loyalty or honesty?
Many supporters of President Donald Trump believe loyalty is more important.
Case in point: They are working hard to destroy the character and careers of federal employees who have raised concerns that Trump might have abused his power and violated the law.
Trumps supporters are following the lead of the president, who frequently calls his critics disloyal, accuses them of treason and suggests they be jailed.
Demands for unconditional loyalty also are made by officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has said that those who disagree with Trumps conduct should resign, rather than report possible criminal activity.
If you reach a point where theyre asking you to do something thats illegal or something that you find just violates your core moral principles, you have a singular option, and that is to leave the organization, Pompeo said.
According to a Topeka Capital-Journal article, Pompeo was talking about dissenting points of view in the State Department, where longtime public servants make a career of working for both Republicans and Democrats.
Pompeos comments are worth considering in the context of whistleblowers and impeachment proceedings, primarily because they run counter to good practices for both government and business.
No reputable company or organization equates disloyalty with whistleblowing.
In fact, most businesses and other entities understand that the interests of the organization supersede those of any supervisor or boss. Thats why companies and organizations have written codes that strongly encourage employees to speak up when they see possible misconduct. Further, they promise to protect employees who report suspected wrongdoing.
This is from Boeings material on the subject:
At Boeing, we believe that creating an environment where employees are comfortable raising issues and concerns without fear of retaliation enables openness which can lead to improved business performance and inspire greater innovation. Boeing maintains policies and procedures to encourage employees to report concerns and seek guidance, using confidential and, when preferred, anonymous methods
And heres a bit from Microsoft:
Employees will not suffer adverse consequences or retaliation for Refusing to do something that violates the Microsoft Standards of Business Conduct, policies, or the law, even if this refusal results in the loss of business to Microsoft.
Now, companies dont always follow their own codes perfectly. But the rules are there, defining their values in black and white: Your duty is to the company, not your boss.
