The impact of white-collar crime on your career

A seemingly harmful, unorthodox action, suddenly derails your career and results in an investigation into your behavior. Despite your perceived innocence of it all, others could have a very different perspective of your intentions.

The consequences of white-collar crime can reverberate across the organization and impact your personal and professional relationships. When you know some of the ways it could affect you, identifying your next steps might be a little easier.

Loss of trust

Regardless of your level of involvement in a white-collar crime, people who learn of your role could lose trust in you. When people’s views of you change, you could lose credibility even if you formerly had a notable reputation in your industry.

Even in your personal life, those close to you might second guess whether or not they can trust you. The best way to handle the skepticism is to be as honest and genuine as possible in your interactions. Take responsibility for the aspects of your situation that you can control. Follow the guidance of your legal team to avoid compromising your case or incriminating yourself.

Loss of opportunity

The depth of your involvement and the things you did will determine the severity of your consequences. According to the FBI, white-collar crimes include embezzlement, public corruption, mass marketing fraud and money laundering. The outcome could mean costly fines, loss of professional licenses and prison time.

As a result of the consequences you face, your career might come to a screeching halt. You could lose opportunities to expand your profession and build your reputation. Once you satisfy the legal repercussions of your actions you could face challenges if you want to return to the workforce. Having a strong legal defense and taking proactive steps to correct your situation may help you reduce the impact of your actions on the outcome of your future.