Your new employee is doing great, but you find out they lied on their resume. What do you do?
Filmmaker George Lucas (yes, of Star Wars fame) founded a great site called Edutopia, which shares, “Teaching ethics can not only help students become better decision-makers, but it can also help develop crucial academic and social and emotional competencies.” So true but rarely done in many organizations.
Here’s the situation: You hire an employee who performs well in the interview and brings some impressive experience and qualifications, as represented by his resume. He has been on board for a few months and is really performing and contributing. You’re excited about his potential, but then you learn that he lied on his resume. He does not possess the qualifications and experience his resume claims. What do you do?
I’d love for you to respond, sharing your hypothetical decision and reasoning. If we were together, I would allow you to ponder this and let group discussion follow to savor the learning experience. There is no right answer, but there are some very serious leader considerations and decision ramifications. Here are a few guiding thoughts…
- A breach of integrity could represent a deeper flaw. What would he lie about next for his own personal gain?
- Is there more to the story here? Was this just a lapse of judgment from a person desperate to join your all-star team?
- How does he react when confronted with this? A. defends himself B. is deeply remorseful and willing to accept the consequences of his dishonesty.
- Loyalty to the individual or loyalty to the organization and its values?
- How would your decision (fire or keep) affect other workers?
- How would your decision affect your ability to lead in the future?
So, what would you do? Comment below ↓
Make it personal!
