Stuck with an Unethical Boss? Here’s What You Can Do
Don’t let bad leadership compromise your values—here’s how to navigate a workplace where integrity is in short supply
Starting a New Job Feels Exciting—Until Reality Hits
You walk in with ambition, ready to make an impact. You want to shine.
Then, reality punches you in the face.
Global surveys reveal a devastating truth: nearly 80% of employees are disengaged at work.
Why? Often, the boss.
Leadership today is in crisis. It’s not just incompetence—it’s a lack of integrity.
Although I am fortunate now to work under leaders I respect, I see this crisis all around me—across industries, countries, and organizations of every size. It spans the public and private sectors, from small businesses to multinational corporations.
We are surrounded by leaders who put their own interests above all else.
And that is one of the most destructive forces to our passion, enthusiasm, and sense of purpose.
We look up to leaders. We aspire to be like them. Some of us even unconsciously mirror their behavior.
But what happens when that leader is unethical? When the very person who should inspire us poisons the environment with deception, favoritism, corruption, or outright fraud?
It damages us—deeply.
And this isn’t just about professional frustration. It’s about something far more dangerous—moral injury.
The Silent Wound: How Moral Injury Destroys Us
Moral injury is not a metaphor. It is real, and it is devastating. It happens when we are forced to act against our own values—or when we witness wrongdoing and feel powerless to stop it.
It occurs in two ways:
Acts of commission: Being pressured into doing something unethical—fudging numbers, covering up mistakes, staying silent about misconduct.
Acts of omission: Knowing something is wrong but feeling trapped, unable to take action, watching injustice unfold while your conscience screams at you to intervene.
And the effects? They are profound and long-lasting:
Guilt. Shame. Self-betrayal.
Burnout. Anxiety. Depression.
Even physical health problems.
The worst part? It doesn’t just stay at work—it follows you home.
It taints your relationships, erodes your confidence, and makes you question your worth.
Think about it:
If someone physically assaulted you at work, you probably wouldn’t just stand there and take it—most people would fight back, defend themselves, or seek justice.
So why do we allow moral injury to break us from the inside?
Why do we let unethical bosses crush our integrity without a fight?
A Story of Moral Injury: When Fairness Is Just a Façade
I once worked for a company that prided itself on fairness. Promotions were earned. Opportunities were based on merit.
Or so we thought.
A vacancy opened, and many qualified candidates applied. The selection process was rigorous, designed to ensure that the best candidate won.
Except… one of the candidates was the cousin of the hiring manager—who also happened to be my boss.
And guess what? She gave the job to her cousin.
The other candidates never stood a chance. The boss had already decided long before the process began. Her cousin was getting the job—no matter what.
The team—who once believed in the company’s integrity—felt betrayed. We saw the unfairness, the hypocrisy, the blatant disregard for ethics.
I knew what was happening was wrong—completely wrong. But I was too young, too inexperienced, and too afraid of retaliation to take my own stand.
I didn’t know how to raise my voice. I simply followed the majority and did what everyone else did—stayed silent.
We told ourselves:
"We’re not justice fighters. We just want to do our jobs, get paid, and go home."
But living with that moral injury was painful.
The boss won in the short term. But in the long run, the damage she inflicted on the team cost far more than she ever anticipated:
The morale of the team crumbled. People disengaged. Trust was shattered.
In the end, what seemed like a small act of favoritism resulted in major losses.
And I learned a hard truth:
Silence neither causes nor stops moral injury, but it does perpetuate it.
The Crossroads: Fight, Flee, or Freeze?
So, what can you do if you're stuck under an unethical boss and experiencing moral injury?
You have three choices: fight, flee, or freeze. Here’s what each option looks like.
1. Fight: Be the Moral Hero
Speak up. Document unethical actions. Raise compliance cases. Escalate to higher authorities.
Be prepared for pushback. Many unethical leaders will retaliate.
But also be prepared for impact. Truth-tellers change cultures—even if they don’t always see the results immediately.
Yes, it takes courage.
But it also means taking control and refusing to be complicit.
2. Flee: Walk Away to Save Yourself
Sometimes, the cost of being a hero is too high. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is leave.
Prioritize your mental well-being.
Preserve your integrity.
Find an environment that aligns with your values.
Walking away isn’t weakness. It’s self-preservation.
3. Freeze: Endure the Unethical Culture
And then, there’s the third option. You stay. Not to fight. Not to fix anything. But simply because you adapt.
You rationalize the injustice and convince yourself that it’s in your best interest to put up with the immorality. You tell yourself:
"It’s just a job."
"This isn’t who I really am."
"I have no choice."
But inaction is a choice—and it leads to moral numbness.
The more we tolerate unethical behavior, the more normal it becomes.
And when we stop feeling the weight of injustice—that’s when we truly lose ourselves.
The Danger of Getting Used to the Pain
Fear keeps people silent. Fear of retaliation. Fear of losing their job. Fear of uncertainty.
But what’s more terrifying?
Spending years in an environment that slowly erodes your soul.
Some of the most valuable leadership lessons don’t come from great mentors.
They come from witnessing who you should never become.
If you’re working under an unethical boss, observe carefully. Learn from their failures.
And if the environment is unbearable, plan your exit carefully.
Your career should never come at the cost of your values.
What Would You Do?
If you were faced with an unethical boss, which path would you choose?
Would you fight back, risking retaliation?
Would you walk away to protect yourself?
Would you stay and endure, hoping things will change on their own?
Ask yourself:
What is the cost of staying silent?
How much am I willing to compromise my integrity for the sake of security?
If I were to look back at this moment in ten years, would I be proud of the choice I made?
Your future self will thank you for making the right decision today.
What’s Your Experience? Let’s Talk.
Have you ever worked under a leader who lacked integrity?
How did you respond?
Your story could help someone find the clarity and courage they need.
Share your thoughts in the comments!
On this journey with you,
Alma