Professional ethics and considering actions

Hopefully, it will never happen to you, but occasionally an employee will be tempted—or even asked—to do something unethical or perhaps borderline illegal. Maybe the questionable act is editing the chemical noise out of mass spectra to make results look better, fudging the numbers on a quality assurance report, or installing an unlicensed copy of a software program on your computer. No matter what the level of infraction is, once you realize a potential action is making you uncomfortable, it’s time to stop and consider carefully before proceeding. Understand the ask. Think hard about exactly what it is about the task that is making you uneasy. Can you identify the company policy or law that would be violated? Use plain language to explain your concerns to the person who made the request, and ask them directly whether they are requesting that you violate that law or policy. Note that speaking