Would you quit?
If you're a football fan the big story of the day is Capello resigning as England manager due a fundamnetal difference of opinion with the FA about John Terry being captain.
In relation to yesterdays events Mr Capello is quoted as saying "They really insulted me and damaged my authority." and "I've never tolerated certain crossing of lines, so it was easy for me to make my decision."
It seems that Mr Capello has a strict set of ethics and personal values which he will not compromise for anyone so in order to uphold these the only option was for him to quit.
If you were in a similar position and your personal values were being challenged what would you do? In a tough economic climate are we more likely to accept certain behaviour from our bosses for fear of not getting another job?
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Hows that famous line go "a tree needs to bend with the wind or break"? We spend a lot of time talking about change and how its continuous and our need to change with it. In this case I'm not sure if its sticking to a strict set of ethics or just taking his ball home.
In the workplace there can be several sets of circumstances that may make someone feel like quitting. For most people that would have an effect on close family if they were the main breadwinner. It would demand a conversation with those who would be affected by your quitting the job. Part of this discussion would be an exit plan starting with bringing your CV up to date and seeing if you can get another job. Then looking at what other possibilities are open to you and perusing some of them.
The very fact of doing this can often make someone feel in control and they can feel more positive about the situation they are in making an unbearable situation bearable. It will reduce the fear factor.
Bosses’ and managers are under immense pressure and some don’t always exhibit professional behaviours. Some will just use the economic situation to revert to their natural style of management. If that’s browbeating command and control your probably not going to change them. Your choices are leave now and live with the consequences, put a plan in place and execute it so that you can leave sometime in the not too distant future. Or stay and accept that’s what your boss is like with everyone and it’s not personal even if it is sometimes upsetting.
Personally I would do the plan but set a time limit on when I would leave. What would do?
I have been working for 33 years in a variety of jobs and companies and have only once walked out at short notice. I made the decision to go when I realised that my job required me to work in ways that conflicted with my personal values.
Despite the good wage and company car I gave it up, not because I wasn't capable of the work, but because I couldn't work comfortably in what I considered to be an unethical environment.
I went on to accept an appointment with a lower salary but I have never regretted my decision and have since more than regained the ground in an area that is better in every way.
As with Capello, if a situation seems so wrong then the decision is an easy one to make.
I agree with Veronica and admire her stand in the face of what must have been a very challenging time.
Would I do the same? I know I would never act unethically or do something that conflicted with my personal values. I would also like to think that if I were in a similar position I could resolve the issues. However if push came to shove I think that in order to retain your personal integrity you'd be left with no choice but to leave.
What would other people do?
It's very easy to resign on principle issues if you are a multi millionaire and the normal social contraints are less applicable. No doubt Mr Capello will return to Italy and spend some time admiring his bank balance and not inconsiderable art collection.
For the rest of us, with families, mortgages, kids at Uni, not such an easy decision as principles can be very expensive. By coincidence, the day before, I resigned my post as a non paid Director for similar reasons as Mr Capello; it was an easy decision to make.
Good point Stephen. It would make it a lot easier to stick to our principles if we got a nice pay off when we left.
Stephen well put that was exactly my point as our individual principles should not be jepordising our families wellbeing as that would be truly selfish. Most who need to work to pay the mortgage etc would go but use an exit plan to leave at the earliest opportunity instead of walking out right now.
There has been one occasion in my working life where my principles dictated that I could not longer continue in role. It was not a decision taken lightly as I had no job to go to and had a mortgage and young family to support. That being said, I knew I was doing the right thing and fortunately I found another job to go to just after the end of my notice period.
I guess looking back I see how horribly wrong that decision could have gone for me but at the time I was absolutely convinced of the correctness of my decision. Decisions like these are highly individual and there will never be a "one size fits all" answer to moral/ethical dilemmas.
I think you are right Martin in that "one size never fits all".
I have been fortunate in my career to have worked with top quality organisations with largely ethical work environments. In Fabio Capello's case I think he should have been involved in the decision, albeit his vote may still have not changed the decision. Under those circumstances he would have had to accept the majority vote or resign.