A colleague asks you to misreport hours; what should you do?

• A. Ignore it.
• B. Refuse and correct the record; report as needed.
• C. Discuss later.
• D. Go along to avoid conflict.

Answer: (B)

When you’re asked to misreport hours, the immediate principle is to keep accurate records and follow proper channels. Falsifying time would be a form of fraud and can bring legal trouble, penalties, and disciplinary action for you and the organization. The right move is to refuse the request, correct the record, and report what happened through the proper channels—your supervisor, human resources, compliance, or an ethics hotline. If the record has already been misreported, fix it promptly and document the change and the reason. If there’s pressure or retaliation, escalate to the appropriate authority and use the available protections. This approach maintains integrity, protects the organization from risk, and upholds your professional responsibilities.