Many people confront situations in life that tempt them to make poor, if not illegal, decisions in the workplace. An Elon alumnus spent a career with the FBI investigating such fraud. His advice? Always follow an ethical code. And choose failure with honor over success with fraud. Details…
“Everybody is faced with internal pressures in their life, like serious financial problems: people who lose their jobs and are unemployed, and those who are underemployed, who don’t make enough money in their jobs for retirement or credit card debt,” he said, slowly pacing beside a lectern. “If you don’t have some type of personal ethical code, I have no idea what in the world you would fall back on if you were ever challenged.”
Why is this important, especially for business students? Despite the discomforts and fear of prison, Halle said, what happens afterward is worse. Convicted felons often lose their professional licenses, and white-collar employers hesitate to hire job applicants with a criminal record.
“When you come out, you have nothing waiting for you. Nothing,” Halle said, citing a young lawyer from Atlanta who acted as an FBI informant for several years and who later pleaded guilty in a corruption probe. “They don’t make it easy for people who go to prison to come back.”
The talk, primarily to MBA students, university seniors and faculty, comes as Elon prepares for a Sept. 6 morning Call to Honor ceremony, where students pledge themselves to a code of respect, responsibility, honesty and integrity. Halle will make a second talk on the same topic at 4:30 p.m. the same day in the Koury Business Center.
Halle has appeared on “60 Minutes” with Ed Bradley and has published a book based on a fraud prevention program titled “Taking the Harder Right.”
“Taking the easier wrong will probably get you through the moment,” Halle said, “but ultimately, the consequences can be devastating.”
In addition to discussing ethics, Halle, who retired from the FBI in 2003 after three decades investigating organized crime and public corruption, offered practical advice for navigating the business world. That includes:
1.) Always return phone calls. Right away, if possible, and no later than a day later.
2.) “Under promise and over deliver.”
3.) “Make a decision. Don’t hand wring.”
4.) Avoid conflicts of interest.
5.) Stay informed by reading newspapers and magazines.
Students said Halle’s wisdom and tips proved valuable as they prepare to enter the workplace in the coming years.
“In today’s age, it’s not whether (an ethical dilemma) will happen, it’s how we handle it,” said Elon senior Jayson Teagle, an audience member at the Sept. 5 presentation, reacting to what he heard after the talk. “A decision to compromise your ethics may get you past today, but it will catch up with you.”