Q&A: Is It Permissible to Lie in Such a Situation?
Is It Permissible to Lie in Such a Situation?
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
I work at a high-tech company, and recently the company changed its policy regarding working from home and reduced the option to work from home to only twice a month. But my team leader told me that I can continue working from home according to the old policy and report that I worked from the office.
My question is: can I rely on him in this matter, even though I know the company forbids it? (And in effect just "play dumb"—maybe the company gave team leaders individual authority for exceptional cases?) Or am I obligated to follow the company’s general policy?
Thank you very much!!
Answer
I don’t really know. It seems to me that it depends on the question of why the company changed its policy and why your boss is allowing it. In principle, this is similar to an order from a field commander that goes against instructions from higher command. There is logic to obeying the field commander, because he knows the situation up close and presumably took the higher-level order into account as well. But that is only if it is clear that his considerations are genuinely about the matter itself and for the benefit of the organization. If that is the case for you, I think you can. If he has personal reasons for allowing it, or is being considerate of your reasons but not acting for the company’s benefit, then you must not listen to him. Bottom line: if it is completely clear to you that there will be no harm at all to the company, there may be room to permit it.