Why people 'cheat' in the workplace

Why do individuals who can make it through hard work resort to corruption and fraud in the workplace? In light of the growing number of high-profile cases that have hit the headlines recently, this was the question we put to clinical psychologist, Dr Lynn Ribton-Turner, the managing member of Ribton- Turner Management Services. “In a nutshell,” Ribton- Turner said, “it is a question of ethics.” And qualification fraud has reached “alarming proportions”. “In the quest for work, for promotion or executive positions, qualifications play a key role,” Ribton-Turner said. “And statistics show that with a matric your chances for a job double, and a tertiary qualification quadruples your chances.” But it's estimated that in SA 18 out of every 100 employees lie about their qualifications. “The why is easily answered in this case,” said Ribton- Turner. “The individuals seek work, promotion, executive packages, status and an enhanced lifestyle – and they are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve their desired goals.” She also suggested that fraudulent behaviour may also be copied or imitated by an employee should they see their manager behave in such a manner. “To them, such behaviour must be ‘OK’ since their manager indulges in it – and the manager is the role model. Individuals also assume that, if public figures can indulge in such behaviour, then it will be in order for them to do the same.” There is also a more deadly individual who enters the workplace. That is the ‘psychopath’, or individual with sociopathic or psychopathic traits or tendencies. But, in business, forget that public assumption that the word ‘psychopath’ tends to suggest a serial killer. “Not all psychopaths wield a meat cleaver,” said Ribton-Turner. “They also don Armani suits and carry Cabrelli Italian briefcases, according to the book “Snakes in Suits” authored by Babriack and Hare. “These individuals seek power, prestige and wealth at any cost. They are without conscience and most often extremely smart and manipulative. They will climb the organisational ladder on the backs of colleagues using lies to advance their position without flinching. “Being without conscience, they will go to any lengths to obtain their desires – and fraud and corruption and dishonesty are part of their game.” This personality type is often diagnosed in early childhood, Ribton-Turner said, pointing out that they were often the individuals who pulled the wings off of flies or butterflies, or tortured small kittens. ‘Psychopath’, she added, is a formal classification in clinical psychology. “To be able to identify such individuals in the workplace assists in preventing major problems down the line. These corporate ‘cons’ can wreak havoc in an organisation – amongst their colleagues, in the corporate culture and with customers.” In the USA one in 100 people is diagnosed as a psychopath, and this is fairly likely an international average. Answering the question: Why would a qualified individual who can ‘make’ it in an organisation resort to fraud and deceit? Ribton-Turner said: “It is my understanding that such individuals who have worked hard to study for a tertiary qualification are unlikely to take the path of least resistance to gain wealth and recognition. It is more likely the individual who has already ‘lied’ about his/her qualifications who is likely to continue with that behaviour in the workplace. “We do know that there are stories of highly qualified smart individuals overcome by greed who are able to ‘cream off’ the millions. In these cases, those individuals lack the internal control of integrity – and ethics were never part of their vocabulary. Personalities do not change overnight.” Ribton-Turner suggested that perhaps there was the justification in some people’s minds that they lacked the opportunity to study, or receive a good start in life – and hence were justified to ‘steal’ from the organisation. INSERT & CAPTION It is more likely the individual who has already ‘lied’ about his/her qualifications who is likely to continue with that behaviour in the workplace. – Dr Lynn Ribton-Turner