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Jewish World Review Sept. 5, 2006 / 12 Elul, 5766 Getting undeserved goodwill By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir Is it wrong to get credit for something you didn't do? http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Q: Even though my company doesn't pay workers for overtime, it still records times of arrival and departure at the office. If I step out in the middle of the day for errands, it looks like I worked extra hours that day. But even though that makes me look good, the company doesn't really lose out since I don't get any extra pay. Do I need to tell my boss that some of my recorded hours are spent at the dentist and not at the office? A. Jewish tradition has a special term for deceiving others without causing them a loss. Obtaining undeserved good will in this way is called "stealing judgment" (geneivas da'as), and is strictly forbidden. We believe that G-d seeks to increase mutual understanding among people; we shouldn't on the contrary try to create and exploit misunderstanding. Still, that doesn't mean that we have to go to any possible lengths to ensure that our actions won't be subject to misinterpretation. Just as we have a responsibility not to mislead others, others have a responsibility to be reasonable in interpreting our actions. Jewish law gives a useful criterion for striking a balance, avoiding unfair deception without requiring obsessive openness. An instructive example is found in the Talmud. As a noted Rabbi approached a town, he found two scholars walking towards him. Assuming that the two men had come specially to greet him, he thanked them for their efforts. One of the scholars felt obliged to explain to the Rabbi that they hadn't known of his arrival and the meeting was a mere coincidence. But his companion though that such a disclaimer was not really required. The commentators explain that if the assumption of a "welcoming party" is reasonable and anticipated, then it is necessary to refute it - as the first scholar thought. But if almost all people would have realized that the meeting was a mere coincidence, then the second scholar was correct - in this case, there was nothing in the circumstances of the meeting which really contributed to misunderstanding. We can apply this criterion to your case. If many workers take occasional breaks, so that your employer should reasonably be able to figure out that your many recorded hours don't necessarily mean that you are slaving away overtime, then you don't have to inform them that your nine recorded hours of presence really mean eight hours of work. But it most workers are pretty careful to record only actual hours of presence, so that your employer would be pretty much justified in assuming that nine hours at the office means nine hours of work, then you should mention to your manager that you frequently take off in the middle of the day. Then your boss can decide how to adjust his or her evaluation of your work. However, before rushing ahead to apply this criterion, let's take a step back. It's clear from your question that you would prefer not to tell your boss. Perhaps you should ask yourself why. If it's because you are somewhat embarrassed to do something off the beaten track (perhaps you disappear for afternoon prayers, and your colleagues wouldn't necessarily understand) then the above criterion is appropriate. But if the reason is because you are hoping to benefit from the extra hours, then you're intention is to mislead; in that case, you should go right ahead and inform your boss. SOURCES: Babylonian Talmud, Chullin 94b, Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 228 Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. THE JEWISH ETHICIST, NOW IN BOOK FORM You've enjoyed his columns on JWR for years. Now the Jewish Ethicist has culled his most intriguing — and controversial — offerings in book form. HARDCOVER PAPERBACK Sales help fund JWR. JWR contributor Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan administration, is Research Director of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, Jerusalem College of Technology. To comment or pose a question, please click here. Previously: Ethics and sportsmanship The ethics of forwarding email Must a supplier honor a discount offered by a rogue sales representative? Should I boycott my daughter's fashion show? Should you respond to all those annoying email pop-up requests? Do I have to reimburse someone who tried to do me a favor? Seeking credit card debt settlement Can I threaten to spread the word about someone who cheated me? How can the terminally ill tap into their life insurance? Is there value in an unhappy marriage? Where does the Almighty fit into your corporation's mission statement? Does an expert witness have to be impartial? Should I give recognition to a modest man who did a great deed? In representing my firm, can I tell a white lie? Defrauding insurance to save a life Can top level management unilaterally give away money to corporate dollars to charity? Loans to Family Members How much worker supervision is too much? Should I turn in a colleague for inappropriate acts? Priority in charitable giving Trolls and ogres How many hours of work is too many? Can I promote my product by having it unobtrusively written into a story? He's not heavy he's my brother All's fair in war?, II All's fair in war? Girth vs. worth Is it proper to tax bequests? Ethics of Being Overweight Penalized for working swiftly When is it a bluff? 'Rate and switch' My paycheck is late! Should schools cater to an elite? All's fair in love? Comfort and Competition Do I need the caller's permission to put a call on the speakerphone? Overtime for lost time Is it unethical to play suppliers against each other to get the lowest bid possible? Do family members have precedence in charity allotments? What the world of business can teach us about our annual process of repentance and renewal Are religious leaders subject to criticism? Vindictive Vendor: How can I punish an abusive competitor? Blogging Ethics: Is the blogger responsible for defamatory posts? © 2005, The Jewish Ethicist is produced by the JCT Center for Business Ethics