In recent weeks, we have seen almost daily reports surface of potential ethical conflicts in the White House, whether it’s possible conflicts of interest between the Trump family’s business ties and government priorities or allegations of collusion between campaign allies and Russian intelligence. Fake news or not, the allegations pose a serious morale problem for anyone working for the White House.
Ethics Allegations Will Hurt White House Staffers Even If They Turn Out to Be False
In recent weeks, we have seen almost daily reports surface of potential ethical conflicts in the White House. Fake news or not, the allegations themselves pose a serious morale problem for anyone working there. Research shows that even if reports about wrongdoing turn out to be false, employees can suffer from them. Studies suggest that many employees believe their personal image is tarnished simply by working for an organization facing alleged problems. Employees in this situation experience a form of “moral stress,” which studies have shown to be perhaps the most corrosive form of stress. Usually, these employees have three options: exit (quitting), voice (speaking up, either publicly or through leaks), or loyalty (choosing to stick it out). But in the long term, none of these options are great ones if ethics allegations drag on, which is why moral stress leads to so many people-management problems.
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