When you challenge your boss on ethics, the reading says you risk being labeled “difficult to work with” but I honestly think its more than that. It could be a quick career poison for an intern hoping for a full-time offer. You could lose her summer income, disappoint her parents, and have to explain a rescinded offer to future employers. Her mentor Melinda warns bluntly: “Your career prospects could be on the line here.” But accepting the dubious task carries different risks, and while less likely, they are way bigger. If discovered, Susan could be blacklisted across the cybersecurity industry. Her university’s reputation suffers. Her personal brand would take a far bigger hit than the relatively minor one she would get from speaking up about it.
The 3 step plan for speaking up
1. Acknowledge the psychological difficulty: Susan should recognize this isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s terrifying. Her brain screams “social threat!” when considering confronting Mr. Moon. But she should also recognize the alternative haunts her: “Welcome to the real work world, honey. It’s full of contradictions.”
2. Reduce the social threat: Susan shouldn’t frame this as “you’re wrong.” Instead, she should express concern about risks. I liked the phrasing the reading gave of “I’m worried that if word leaks out that I’m working for the company, it could reflect poorly on the firm.” Use “we” language. CC both managers. Make it as non-confrontational as possible.
3. Make a plan with alternatives: Propose some solutions. Susan could suggest interviewing loyal customers who’ve evaluated competitors, consulting with third-party analysts, or talking to Zantech employees who came from rival firms. The irony isn’t lost: a cybersecurity firm asking an intern to misrepresent herself. If Zantech ignores her ethical concerns, she’s learned everything she needs to know about whether this is where she belongs. The best career move is always protecting the person you’ll be in ten years.
