across the bar

tell me lies tell me sweet little lies

by Steve - Posted 11 February 2010

Do you remember that stint working at the Kentucky drive thru in high school which became "a high-powered customer service position" in your CV. Yes, we all tend to pad the gaps in our resumes a little from time to time. Good  marketing - isn't that what its all about? But what happens when your little white lies take on a much darker hue?  

There is a line between trying to show ourselves in the best possible light to get a job, and outright deception. The consequences of crossing the line can be severe. In a case last year in the UK, an ex-employee of a local council was sued for lying on her CV about her health. The employee had suffered from depression over a long period of time and was being treated with anti-depressant medication. However, when she filled in a job application form for the council, she stated that she was in good health.

The council sued for damages based on numerous days of sick leave it had to pay out, GBP 175 000 worth! They based their claim on the fact that the employee had lied when she filled out the job application.

Giving incorrect or untruthful information to an employer can also be grounds for disciplinary action. If the lies  dilute the whole relationship of trust between employer and employee, the employee could be fired. It will always depend on how serious the dishonesty was. Lying about professional qualifications that are essential for doing the job would be gross misconduct. Fibbing that you got an A instead of a B on your grade 1 report might just be okay.

In the current economy, the job market is saturated with people looking for work. Job applicants will be tempted to pad their CV's. If you are hiring, look out for exaggerated nose growth!