We’ve all been told from a young age that lying could result in our pants spontaneously catching fire, and yet – many people still do it all the time. And here’s the truth about lying. Sometimes it’s not that bad.
According to new research, people lie at work mostly so they don’t seem like a jerk. Sometimes the truth is just too good to be true and we get worried that our peers will judge us. Dr. Shoham Choshen-Hillel found that when it comes to favorable outcomes, people “prefer lying and appearing honest over telling the truth and appearing as selfish liars.”
For example, in one recent study people were asked to imagine taking a work trip working for a company that allocates 400-miles per month to employees. One group was told they had driven a full 400, but when it came time to report it, 12% recorded less, and the average report came out to 384-miles.
Basically, some of us are more worried about saving face with our bosses and co-workers than being properly compensated.It’s that kind of selflessness that’s going to get you the first piece of face-cake when it’s someone’s birthday in the office.
Source:The Ladders