What to Do if Your Manager is Committing Fraud: Part 6 of 8
Part 6: Protecting Your Career — Before, During, and After
Reporting fraud is a courageous act, but it carries real professional risks. Here is how to protect yourself throughout the process.
6.1 Understand Your Employment Agreement
Before taking any action, review your employment contract, employee handbook, any non-disclosure or non-disparagement agreements you may have signed, and any confidentiality policies. An attorney can help you understand whether any of these documents affect your ability to report externally or retain copies of documents.
6.2 Don't Volunteer More Than You're Asked
In conversations with colleagues, HR, or even investigators, answer what is asked and nothing more. Over-sharing can complicate your legal position and may inadvertently reveal information that was not yet relevant to the investigation.
6.3 Keep Performing Your Job Normally
As difficult as it may feel, continue performing your regular duties at your normal standard until you have transitioned out. A sudden change in work performance or attitude gives an employer a pretext for adverse action that is unrelated on its face to the fraud report.
6.4 Document Every Unusual Interaction
From the moment you begin the reporting process, keep a log of any unusual conversations, comments from your manager or peers, changes to your responsibilities, or other potentially retaliatory actions. Include dates, times, who was present, and exactly what was said. This log could be critical if a retaliation claim becomes necessary later.
6.5 Begin a Confidential Job Search
You may ultimately decide to leave — or you may have no choice. It is never too early to begin exploring your options confidentially. Update your resume, reach out to trusted professional contacts, and explore opportunities outside the company. The goal is to ensure that your exit is on your terms and your timeline, not the company's.
Have Questions? MMB MBA Can Help.
At MMB MBA, we specialize in forensic bookkeeping, QuickBooks consulting, and helping businesses untangle financial irregularities. If you suspect fraud in your organization — or if you're a business owner who suspects something is wrong — we can conduct a discreet, professional review of your books and help you understand what you're looking at.
Contact us today at www.mmbmba.com
General Informational Purpose Only
The content published in this blog post, including all text, checklists, examples, recommendations, and any other materials contained herein (collectively, the "Content"), is provided by MMB MBA solely for general informational and educational purposes. The Content is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal advice, accounting advice, financial advice, tax advice, investment advice, or any other form of professional advice. Reading this blog post does not create any professional relationship — including but not limited to an attorney-client relationship, accountant-client relationship, or consultant-client relationship — between you and MMB MBA or any of its principals, employees, contractors, or affiliates.