Introduction:
The management and operations of privately-owned organizations entirely depend on their internal policies. However, some organizations adopt unethical strategies that go beyond morality to protect their own interests, engaging in misconduct and unethical practices. One common trend among such organizations is the hostile treatment of departing officials. When a senior official or responsible person leaves the company, the organization sometimes engages in conspiratorial actions against them. This includes fabricating false accusations, turning current employees against them, and even completely denying their contributions and role.
Employees who remain in such an organization should deeply reflect on the fact that they too could face the same fate in the future. Supporting an organization’s unethical activities means weakening one’s moral stance and making their own future uncertain. In this article, we will analyze how such organizations operate, their negative impact, employees’ responsibilities, and possible solutions for creating a healthy work environment.
Unethical Practices in Organizations: A Realistic View
Some organizations create confusion among employees and adopt various unethical tactics to safeguard their interests. The most notable among these are:
- Spreading Misinformation Against Departing Officials
When an official leaves an organization, some companies spread various rumors to tarnish their image. This is usually done to create a negative perception among current employees about the departing official so that they are forgotten by the organization.
- Forcing New Employees to Deny the Contributions of Former Officials
In many cases, organizations try to erase the contributions of departing officials by instructing new employees to believe that the previous official had no significant role. This creates a false perception among new employees, making them think that the company is always fair and just.
- Creating an Invisible Barrier (“Glass Wall”)
Organizations deliberately take steps to ensure that a former employee can no longer maintain any connection with the company. This includes denying them access to the premises, severing ties with their former colleagues, and even filing baseless allegations against them.
- Shaping Employee Mindset to Align with the Organization
Organizations mold employees’ mentalities in a way that they prioritize only the company’s interests. As a result, employees become blind to their own future and get involved in unethical practices.
Why Is This Trend Dangerous?
Employees who accept such trends as normal unknowingly invite trouble for themselves in the future. Here’s why this is extremely risky:
- They Might Face the Same Situation One Day
Employees who participate in conspiring against a departing official often forget that one day, they too will leave the organization. When that time comes, they might also become victims of similar conspiracies.
- It Causes Moral Decay
When someone supports unethical actions, their moral integrity gradually erodes. Over time, they lose their creativity and intelligence, which negatively affects their career.
- Loss of Professional Reputation
Employees who blindly support unethical company actions often lose their professional credibility, making it harder for them to find opportunities in better organizations in the future.
- Bad Reputation in the Job Market
Organizations that engage in such unethical practices eventually lose their reputation in the job market. As a result, talented employees become unwilling to join them, leading to a decline in overall growth.
What Should Employees Do?
Current employees must recognize these issues and take appropriate actions. They can follow these steps:
- Maintain Ethical Integrity
Employees should refrain from participating in any unethical activities of the organization and uphold their personal integrity.
- Speak Out Against Injustice
If the organization unjustly conspires against any official, employees should stand against it. Because the same injustice happening today might happen to them tomorrow.
- Prepare for the Future
Employees should continuously improve their skills and qualifications so that they can secure better opportunities in the future. When you are skilled, no one can confine you within a “bracket”—this realization is crucial.
- Advocate for a Healthy Work Environment
Employees should question company policies rationally and contribute to creating a positive work culture. A sustainable work environment can only be achieved when fairness and humanity are upheld in the workplace.
Final Thoughts by Nure A. Khan
Organizations that take conspiratorial actions against departing officials and involve current employees in such activities are ultimately paving the way for their own downfall. Employees who support these unethical tactics today will likely become victims of the same strategies in the future. Therefore, it is essential for employees to recognize these manipulative strategies and uphold their integrity to protect their professionalism.
To build a sustainable and successful organization, it is crucial to stand for justice and oppose wrongdoing. A responsible and ethical employee should strive to maintain a workplace culture where everyone is treated fairly, and the organization can progress sustainably.
Many employees and officials may momentarily participate in an organization’s corrupt or unethical policies, perhaps to save their job or for personal gain. However, they fail to realize that this culture will eventually turn against them. The organization that conspires against someone today will likely do the same to someone else tomorrow.
If an organization indulges in dishonesty, deception, or unethical activities, it will gradually lose its reputation and create a toxic work environment. From both an Islamic and moral perspective, harming someone unjustly, falsely accusing others, or engaging in dishonest activities are all forms of illicit earnings. If someone knowingly participates in unethical work and causes harm to others, they are not just harming the organization but also leading themselves towards an unlawful livelihood.
A person can truly claim to be an “intelligent being” or a person of conscience only when they work with honesty and take a stand against injustice. Integrity and morality are not just personal virtues—they are fundamental to achieving success in one’s career.
Author: Nure A. Khan, CEO, CHARM
