Bring Your A Game to Work: Accountability

Rationalization is __________________.

• getting caught stealing and denying it
• defending your behavior with excuses
• getting what you rightly deserve at work
• giving your best at work even if some things seem unfair

Really large businesses are not badly affected by employee theft because they have so much money.

• True
• False

Carrie values honesty and accountability and she expects the people she associates with to be honest as well. She is a server at a restaurant that offers a free dessert to customers who come in on their birthday. Two of Carrie's close friends come in for dinner and sit at a table in Carrie's section. They ask her to tell the kitchen that one of them has a birthday today, even though it is not true, so that they can have a free dessert. Carrie most likely will ____________________________.

• say no because she knows that her values and ethical behavior shouldn't change depending on the situation
• say no because she is afraid she will get fired
• agree because she feels that friendship is more important than anything else

How does an employee's dishonesty affect others in the workplace?

• Patterns of dishonest behavior are hard to break.
• The employee might feel guilty or paranoid about his or her dishonest behavior and the consequences.
• If the company's profits go down, the workers may face pay cuts or lay-offs.
• The employee might get fired for his or her dishonest behavior.

Which of the following is NOT a top reason to hold yourself accountable for your actions in the workplace?

• People who steal are always looking over their shoulder for fear of being caught.
• Dishonest people sometimes get away with it, and then they feel good about themselves.
• By being accountable for your actions, you can establish a pattern of workplace success that will help you in the long run.
• Dishonest behavior will stain your record and that can follow you for years.

Honest and ethical behavior can vary depending on the situation.

• True
• False

A record of dishonest can follow you for years because many employers perform background checks and call previous employers.

• True
• False

Who pays the price for employee theft?

• Only the dishonest employee and the employer
• Everyone: the employer, the coworkers, the customers, and the dishonest employee
• The employer and the customers
• The employer, the dishonest employee, and the other employees

Getting fired is the worst thing that can happen if you are caught stealing from your employer.

• True
• False

It is justifiable to leave work a few minutes early and have someone "punch out" for you if you are overworked and underpaid.

• True
• False