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Anonymous A
on Oct 06, 2019
Global

Suppose you find out that your employer is doing something illegal – how do you deal with it?

How would you answer this question in your Personal Fit interview? Receive feedback on your answer and browse through the Q&As to review the approaches of other applicants and experts.

27 Answers
3.0k Views
16
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Top answer
Anonymous
on Mar 24, 2020

McKinsey has recently started to test moral integrity of the candidates in the second round of the interviews – reach out to me if you want to know more.

Regarding this particular question – that's a question to test your moral integrity vs loyalty to your employer – it goes without saying, the former is more important than the latter, but I would construct a multiple step answer:

  • Firstly, you should address the issue with your employer right away – maybe your employer doesn’t know that they are doing something illegal. So, talk about it openly with your boss – do not avoid responsibility (if your employer is doing something illegal, you as an extension of your company are also doing something illegal);
  • Secondly, offer help to sort it out – help your employer to stop illegal activities;
  • Lastly, if you see that the issue continues, go to the boss of your boss and address it;
  • As a last resort, if this also doesn’t help – go public / to a police / a controlling body who is supervising your employer.

Best,
Daniel

15
on Feb 04, 2024

Ich weise ihn/sie in erster Linie darauf hin - ggf. ist das Bewusstsein nicht gegeben. Ansonsten weise ich auf legale Alternativen hin und biete meine Hilfestellung dazu an.

7
Clara
Coach
on Sep 30, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

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Anonymous D
on Oct 06, 2021

Discuss the issue with the employer. Help finding solutions. Report the issue to higher positions/ compliance office.

3
on Apr 05, 2022

I will sue him

3
on Jan 06, 2023

Report to HR first giving the reasons why i feel so.

3
Anonymous
on Apr 29, 2020

Hi A,

If you ever figure out that your employer is doing something illegal then you can either file for compliance case within the company . Also, you can still take your responsibility and do the action. If you don't take any action you comply with this, otherwise  you can simply quit it. 

Best,

André

2
on Oct 21, 2021

I suppose it depends on who it is affecting. If someone was going to be hurt by it, or if it put me in jeopardy, I would be keeping record and confront them about the activity and how it is affecting others. If it was still happening, I would likely find a different job.

2
Anonymous I
on Jan 09, 2023

i woul tell him he was doing something wronh and then say my supervisor

2
on Mar 04, 2023

talk to him in private and reminded him with laws 

2
Anonymous J
on Mar 28, 2023

Go to compliance 

2
Anonymous K
on May 04, 2023

auf den Sachverhalt ansprechen, gemeinsam Lösungen finden 

2
on May 23, 2023

Consult your company whistleblowing policy and follow the designated policy. If there is no Whistleblowing policy then contact the Chair of the Board to report it to them, requesting an update on resolution and complete anonymity. If nothing is done within an appropriate time frame, report the issue to the authorities in line with whistleblower protection legislation.

2
Anonymous L
on May 28, 2023

Inform the law enforcements of the state.

2
Anonymous B
on Apr 17, 2020
on Oct 07, 2020

see answer

1
Anonymous C
edited on Sep 15, 2021

I would reach Compliance Dept.

1
Anonymous E
on Oct 10, 2021

If presented with this current situation, I would bring the issue to HR after gathering all information about the case.

1
on Oct 21, 2021

report

1
Anonymous F
on Jan 25, 2022

Approach boss directly to talk about the observation and to find out if it's really true.

1
Anonymous G
on Mar 22, 2022

Do research, confirm is illegal with lawyer, report

1
Anonymous H
on Apr 27, 2022

Kommt drauf an, wie das Ausmaß des verbotenen ist. Zunächst den Arbeitgeber oder Kollegen besprechen und dann über nächste Schritte beraten.

1
on Jul 10, 2022

Report to IC. If this is not feasible/effective, go to authorities.

1
on May 31, 2023

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1
Anonymous M
on Jul 02, 2023

First, I will talk directly to my boss to raise the issue and see if he is conscious about it. If he is not, I will try to help him to sort it out.

If the issue continues, I will raise the problem to higher manager. As last resort and when there is no solution, I will go to controlling body supervising my employer, police and publicly.

1
Anonymous N
on Jul 26, 2023

Report the incident to my nearest manager or HR department and depending on the case to the whistleblower hotline. Apart from these, I would report the incident to the national police. 

0
Anonymous O
on Oct 03, 2023

First I'd like to have a talk with my employer and hope to convince them to no longer do it. If that doesn't work go to their superior. As a last solution I'd have no choice but to report them.

0
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