Boss Wants You to Do Something Shady: A Survival Guide for Young Professionals
It rarely comes with the word “corruption” attached.
It comes as:
“Please don’t worry about the date, just align it so it doesn’t cause problems.”
“This client is important. Don’t ask too many questions, just process it. We’ll regularise later.”
“Help me manage this one. It’s sensitive.”
Nothing is said outright. But you understand. And your stomach tightens.
You also know the unwritten rules:
This person can influence your rating, promotion and access to opportunities.
You’re still “growing” in your career.
Saying no feels risky. Saying yes feels wrong.
What do you do?
If you’re a young professional in a system that doesn’t always reward honesty, you need more than outrage. You need a survival strategy.
Here’s a simple one.
1️⃣ First, pause and name what is happening
Before you react, take a mental step back and answer three questions:
What exactly am I being asked to do?
(Backdate? Skip approvals? Hide a fact? Ignore KYC?)
What could go wrong if this blows up?
(Legal issues? Client harm? Reputational damage? Internal scandal?)
What is my role in this?
(Decision-maker? Signatory? Messenger? Cover?)
Naming it clearly in your own mind moves you from vague discomfort to clear thinking. It also helps you explain the situation if you need advice or support.
2️⃣ Clarify the instruction (push it into the light)
Sometimes what sounds shady is just badly communicated. Other times, people rely on ambiguity to push you into doing what they don’t want to put in writing.
Your goal is to force clarity without being rude.
You can ask neutral questions like:
“Just to be clear, are you asking me to skip the usual approval workflow for this?”
“Do you want us to backdate the document so it looks signed before the deadline?”
“Should I proceed without the supporting documents we normally require?”
Or send a short message:
“Hi [Name], just confirming the instruction on [transaction]. You want me to [state clearly] so I can proceed accordingly.”
Very often, one of two things happens:
They backtrack or soften the request.
Or they own it clearly, and now it is their decision on record, not yours alone.
Clarifying is not disobedience. It’s professionalism.
3️⃣ Protect yourself without starting an unnecessary war
Once you’re clear on what is being asked, use a few practical moves to protect both your integrity and your future.
Delay & Document, slow things down, and create a record:
“Our process requires me to log this as an exception. Can you send a short email so I don’t misrepresent the instruction?”
“Let me draft an exception note for your approval so we’re covered.”
Offer a clean alternative, find the real need (speed, pressure, deadlines), then offer a lawful solution:
“We can fast-track this through the normal workflow if we get X and Y today.”
“We can submit an interim version now and full documentation next week.”
“We can mark this as high priority without skipping KYC.”
You’re showing that you’re solution-oriented, just not at any cost.
Use the system as your shield:
“Compliance now tracks these exceptions, and my login is visible.”
“The regulator has been strict on this area; let’s keep this one clean so it doesn’t come back to us.”
The message is subtle: the real opponent is not you. It’s the risk.
4️⃣ Decide your red lines before the next request comes
The worst time to decide your values is when you're under pressure.
Take time, when things are calm, to decide:
Things you will never do in your name (falsify safety reports, lie to regulators, manipulate client funds, forge signatures, leak personal data).
Things you might tolerate once, with proper documentation, but not as a pattern.
Situations where you would rather leave than comply.
Then, when a request crosses a red line, you can respond from clarity, not panic:
“I’m not comfortable doing this in my name. If this is the route we must take, I’d prefer someone else handles it.”
If the pressure continues and it’s clear your integrity is seen as a nuisance, it may be time to quietly plan an exit. Leaving a place that demands your complicity is not failure; sometimes it’s self-preservation.
You are not alone
One dangerous lie in compromised environments is: “Everybody else is doing it and is fine with this except you.”
Look closely because it’s rarely true.
There are usually others who are uncomfortable but quiet:
The colleague who insists on documentation.
The manager who pushes for process.
The compliance person who actually reads policies.
Find them. Compare notes. Support each other. Integrity is easier to sustain in collective action when you’re not trying to be a lone hero.
Joining The Integrity Generation
If you’ve ever stared at a draft reply, wondering how to push back on a shady request without destroying your career, you are exactly who I mean when I talk about The Integrity Generation.
Not perfect. Not naïve. Just people who don’t want to build a CV, they’ll be afraid to explain in ten years’ time.
So here’s a practical challenge for this week:
👉 Think of one time you were asked to “manage” something that felt wrong.
👉 Ask yourself: how did I respond, and which of these steps could I have used instead (Pause & Name, Clarify, Protect, Decide)?
👉 Write down one sentence you would like to use next time. Keep it where you’ll see it.
In zones of weak governance, survival is not just about keeping your job.
It’s about keeping your name and the kind of professional you are becoming intact.
