Employer Directing Me To Lie To Customers

Jurisdiction
Wisconsin
I apologize if this isn't the right place for this question. I couldn't figure out where to put it.

My employer keeps directing me to lie to customers. An example would be, "No decision has been made about that refund yet," when the truth is that they have already decided not to give the refund, or, "We can deliver that by the 5th," when I know that we can't really deliver it by the 5th and the plan is to lie now and then call the customer closer to the delivery date and lie again saying there was an unexpected delay.

I am very uncomfortable doing this. My religion prohibits lying and deliberate deception. Those are considered to be sins and I am not supposed to commit sins on purpose with the intention of asking God for forgiveness later when I knew before I did it that I would be committing a sin.

Can I request "Not having to lie," as a religious accommodation? Would I need a letter from my church? This seems like a dumb question because isn't lying considered to be a sin in just about every religion? But it really bothers me. What can I do other than looking for a different job?

Thank you.
 
I am very uncomfortable doing this

If anyone challenges your ethics, you have the ability to say NO.

Just as there could be consequences if you say YES, consequences follow with NO.

Choose wisely.

My religion prohibits lying and deliberate deception.

The solution to your moral dilemma is that you have the ability to resist.

You are FREE to quit and find employment with an employer that behaves responsibly and ethically.

Can I request "Not having to lie," as a religious accommodation?

Can implies you possess the ability to do so, but unexpected consequences often follow choices that diverge from the what the powerful wish to impose.

Nevertheless, you are a free citizen of the United States of America, and slavery was outlawed after the Civil War hostilities ceased during the latter quarter of the 19th century.


Would I need a letter from my church?

I wouldn't try that mate.

Nevertheless, you are also free to ignore whatever I type.

What can I do other than looking for a different job?


Smile, bow politely and say the following, "Thank you very much, boss, may I have another?"

Take a look at how Boz (Dickens character in Oliver Twist FF to 50 seconds) handled a similar dilemma:

 
Can I request "Not having to lie," as a religious accommodation?

The employer may not discriminate against you because you belong to a particular religion and may need to provide some accommodation for your religious practices (like altering your schedule to allow you to attend religious services or allowing you to dress in a certain way if that is necessary for your religion) if doing that would won't impose a significant hardship on the employer. But the employer does not have to change its business practices to conform to any particular religion. So you can ask the employer for what you want, but I don't see that the employer has to grant that request. The reality is that if your employer is ok with having employees lie to customers then you are working for dishonest people and you can expect that they'll be willing to lie to your face, too, if it suits them. That's really not a good work environment. If it were me, I'd be looking for a different job.
 
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