John is a middle aged executive for a small company. They treathim well, but, unfortunately, cannot pay what he believes he isworth. Recently, he applied to a large international corporationfor an executive position. After a phone interview, which wentwell, the prospect employer set up an interview at their corporateoffices. They then e-mailed John a series of questions which wouldbe part of their second interview. Surprisingly, there were severalquestions as to what cable television news shows he regularlywatches and the magazines and/or subscriptions he receives eitheronline or through the mail.
John considers himself an independent and does not belong to anyone party. He, however, favors cable news shows that are consideredliberal and receives an online subscription to The NewRepublic and New Yorker. If he admits to thisinformation, he worries he will be “painted” as a liberal, aradical, or at least an intellectual. Although this informationshould NOT be important to his future job, the company would notask these questions unless they had a reason for thisinformation.
Therefore, John decides to lie to the interviewing committee andindicate he rarely watches cable news shows and mostly watches thesports networks and the movie channel with his wife.
Is John’s conduct wrong? Is it unethical to lie to obtainemployment when you know the provided information will not affectyour work product? After he is hired, should he “confess” hewatches some cable news shows?
What do you do? What are your choices?
