Pay close attention to the content of this article, which - although written in 2002 by a Human Resources expert and then - columnist for the "Career & You" section of EXAME magazine, in response to my question regarding my unfair dismissal from the Brazilian subsidiary of the Italian oil giant Eni, in what was proven to be an act of retaliation - unfortunately still reflects the practices of a significant portion of today’s corporate world:
“Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance, and Codes of Ethics are increasingly common topics in business environments. But they are becoming common only in corporate discourse. There is a black box called corporate corruption about which we have very little information. The media and public opinion show great interest when it comes to corruption in the public sector. That same level of scrutiny does not exist in private sector relationships. As a result, a company can build a socially responsible image while sweeping possible violations under the rug.
This can turn extremely important topics into nothing more than marketing slogans. That seems to be what happened in your case. It is good that the company dismissed those involved in the wrongdoing you reported. But one question will remain: How far did the branches of the corruption scheme you helped uncover actually reach?
This is one of the most difficult dilemmas in the corporate world today: What can be done when internal company channels punish professionals who report misconduct? Perhaps the best path is to turn to the courts. In your case, I believe it’s clearly an unjust dismissal that deserves to be taken to court, to seek justice and compensation.
And note: this won’t just be a personal matter. By taking the case to court, in addition to defending your rights, you will also publicly expose what the company tried to hide by firing you. The company will end up publicly recognized as one that engages in 'ethical marketing'. Such action is important because it sets an example and shows that ethics must go beyond corporate speeches. Of course, there are legal - and possibly criminal - consequences.
The hardest part will be assessing the impact of such an action on your personal and professional life. It may be seen as an idealistic fight, since nothing guarantees that the corporate corruption black box won’t blacklist you from the job market. That’s a risk.
Surely, there are thousands of companies that operate with true responsibility. But we still don’t know what the real impact of transparency on the corporate world will be. If cases like yours start making it to court, it’s possible that transparency will reach all companies faster”.
