You may not think it’s possible to accidentally violate the law with a white collar crime, but you’d be surprised. There are plenty of people in the world who commit crimes intentionally, but the reality is that some end up committing crimes unintentionally or because their workplace actually encourages it.
If you’re told to do something that you believe may be criminal in nature, know your rights. If you don’t want to violate any laws or feel that something is off with the request, then you should report your suspicions to the authorities. Companies should encourage employees to do this to avoid wrongdoing and implication in crimes.
Another thing to remember is that going along with a crime is a crime in and of itself. You need to think about your reputation. If you’re caught, you may never work in your field again. It may make it hard for you to work anywhere at all, in all truth.
It’s a good idea to look into working for ethical employers. If you’re being interviewed, you can ask about how a company handles ethical concerns in the workplace and how they’d respond if a person reported unethical actions. Retaliation is against the law, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen in some workplaces.
Finally, think about the possibilities in your workplace in advance. What would happen if you were asked to do certain things you feel are unethical? Would you be able to report it to your superior or need to turn to the authorities? Thinking about this in advance can help you if you are ever trying to avoid being accused of white collar crimes.
Source: FindLaw, “Don’t Be an Accidental White Collar Criminal: 5 Tips from Preet,” Casey C. Sullivan, Esq., accessed May 02, 2018
