Business ethics

The job I had just been offered as management secretary gave me considerable responsibility. I was thrilled. After a month of working with the person who was leaving the post, I was certain that, since every aspect of the work suited me, God had really guided me to the ideal place.

Two days before the end of my trial period, I was offered the position, but, at the same time, informed about the hidden administrative part of my work, covering secret social and financial accounts. I was told what my actual salary would be but also the amount of my fictitious salary—in other words, the part not declared to the tax office. I expressed my surprise, but I liked my new duties and told them I would give them my reply the following day.

What should I do? Had God put me in such a situation? I really needed to think and pray.

It was a great dilemma for me. I needed to keep my job, as I was alone responsible for my child. I had recently come to know Christian Science, and this had awakened in me the need for moral rigor in my daily life. Dishonest practice with regard to human laws does not reflect the government of God, who is all truth, all clarity. I now had a strong desire to live in accord with my true spiritual identity, which is the pure and upright reflection of God. In the Preface to Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy wrote: “. . . to reach the heights of Christian Science, man must live in obedience to its divine Principle.”

One thing was clear to me: Applying the principles of divine law implied respect of human laws. I spent much of the evening in prayer, and reached the certainty that my priority was to be obedient to the divine Principle. My choice was to live in harmony with divine laws by expressing uprightness and honesty, and I decided to inform my director that I would accept the post on condition that I be given complete freedom to put the company’s financial situation in order.

The next morning I met with my director. I confirmed my desire to take the job, which suited me so well, but only on the condition that he bring into accord with the law those aspects he had mentioned to me the previous day. He replied that he was the boss of the company and that the system of remuneration had been in place for a long time, in agreement with certain clients and with the employees. The person leaving the post had in fact worked in this way for years.

Throughout this meeting, I continued to pray to God for help. I was so anxious not to lose my job, but at the same time I knew that I couldn’t work illegally. At my director’s request, I explained the reasons for my attitude. I told him that though I wanted to take on these duties, I wished to work within the framework of the fiscal and social laws. I did not want to be party to an infringement of the law since it would be contrary to my moral and religious principles.

There was a moment’s silence, which seemed very long. He then told me that doing so would enormously increase the costs, and risk putting the company in danger. I replied that living in accord with the law seemed to me to be a priority, and that on the contrary danger could come from a tax audit which would detect illegalities.

During this discussion, I could feel my whole body trembling, but I remained firm and confident. I held spiritual truths in thought. God is Love: He could not therefore abandon me in this situation. God was enlightening both my employer and me to do what was right. God is Truth: No false situation could exist among the children of God, who we are in reality. The conversation continued calmly.

Finally I heard him asking me how I would proceed if he accepted my point of view. We had reached a new stage. Giving thanks to divine Love, the law of good, which is all presence and all power, and which guides us all, I explained how I intended to proceed with this project. After a brief negotiation, we agreed on the time needed to put this project in place.

I was then led to say to my boss that since I did not yet appear on the list of employees, it would be as well to start on a sound basis. He accepted, and from that time I received my full salary on a legal basis. I was full of gratitude to God for giving me the courage to stand by my convictions, and I was certain that this new way forward for the company would prove to be a blessing for all those concerned.

Science and Health states: “Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help.” This was proved to me during all the years I worked in this company. The director had complete confidence in me and left all the administrative responsibilities, and more besides, to me. I had excellent relations with everyone—management, employees, clients, all based on integrity, rigor, and honesty.

It was no secret that I relied on prayer to resolve the difficult situations that could arise in my work, and I spoke freely of my faith to those who wished to know more. Copies of the Bible and Science and Health in my desk drawer drew smiles from those who saw them, but also respect.

Sentences from one or the other of these books, taken from my morning’s spiritual work, which I left on my desk, sometimes drew comments from my colleagues, but always of a kindly nature. I had occasion to listen to and to help a number of them and gave them copies of Le Héraut de la Christian Science and Science and Health. Some of these people continue in their study of Christian Science today.

About eight years after joining the company, we were informed that there would be two fiscal and salary audits. The management and I waited serenely for the conclusion, which lasted several months. An audit is never easy, but I knew that apart from any errors that I could have made inadvertently, there had been no voluntary infringement of the law. That was my strength. It was based on the divine law, which I tried to practice in my personal life and in the workplace.

I answered many questions and produced all the documents requested by the auditors, who occupied my office for days. A climate of confidence was established, and everything went along well. No awkward consequences came to disturb the intense activity of the company, which provided work for 100 people.

Before he left the company, one of the auditors asked me for a private meeting. Legally the audit could only cover the last five years, but I think he had his suspicions about the previous years. He asked me directly if the company’s accounts had always been carried out in the present way. He looked me straight in the eyes.

I prayed to God to guide me. I heard myself say that I could only answer for what I had done myself, and that my desire had been and was to act with the greatest honesty and integrity with regard to everyone. He told me he was convinced of that, and it was for that reason he had not asked his superiors for a derogation order to proceed to investigations on the earlier accounts of the company. This was confirmation for me that the attitude to which my new understanding of God--and the man and woman of integrity He created--had led me, had blessed us all.

These have been rich years in my practice of Christian Science. I have been happy in the spiritual study necessary to establish myself firmly on divine Principle, and this study continues today. I have had many occasions to see the confirmation of these words of Mary Baker Eddy: “Fidelity finds its reward and its strength in exalted purpose. Seeking is not sufficient whereby to arrive at the results of Science: you must strive; and the glory of the strife comes of honesty and humility” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 341).

Marie Taillefer is a Christian Science practitioner living in Pau, in southwest France.

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