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An Associated Press business story is the most recent media coverage of From Hire to Liar: The Role of Deception in the Workplace,the latest book byDavid Shulman, associate professor of anthropology and sociology.
Distributed nationally by the Associated Press newswire, the weekly column written by Jackie Farwell is excerpted below:
Ever flashed a rude customer your best smile while you seethed inside, or told a caller your boss wasn’t in while she sat 10 feet away in her office? You’re not alone. Most of us lie at work, and that’s not necessarily bad.
Deception ranging from white lies to fibs about sales numbers can help maintain employee harmony and efficient workplace operations, according to David Shulman, author of “From Hire to Liar: The Role of Deception in the Workplace,” and a professor at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
“Lies are not necessarily evil, unethical lies,” he said.
….When it comes to social etiquette, as well as maintaining a good personal image, many workers have few qualms about fudging the truth, according to Shulman’s ethnographic study of employees in more than 30 workplace environments.
People draw the line at illegal behavior, however, particularly in the case of financial crimes, Shulman said. And while it won’t land you in prison, lying on your resume isn’t a good idea, either, he said.
For further reading on Shulman, associate professor of anthropology and sociology, go to the following links: