In corporate world: Is honesty the best policy??

It goes beyond doubt that honesty is the best policy. On the other hand, it'll defenitely test your patience. Honesty may not pay the dividents and benifits in short term. You will be healthier, happier and more satisfied if you are honest.

The definition of honesty in the present context is vague.  Sticking to one organisation can not be considered as honesty.  I cannot see loyalty even.  When u have no confidence in you, you may stick to one organisation.  It matters how u perform.  Loyalty and honesty has nothing to do in the cut throat competitive world.

Yes, Honesty is the best policy in corporate world and why only in corporate, it is the best policy every where.

I prefer loyalty and honesty are the best policy. If you follow these two policies there is not need to worry about other policies.

There is nothing about honesty or dishonesty in Corporate world, one has to slog like a machine. Emotionless, non-deluding types, impersonal and humane.

I think the story is only half, full story will read like the other element might have been more productive and efficient being hired by other companies and or hero Raghu took the safer route of staying with lesser risky prospect of stayino on the job doing monontonous growth. The other guy went around, took more challenges of learnign markets and learned to compete from different propositions. So that is an advantage the parent company can rely on. May be there is more to it than meet the eye. Emotions don't work, "one need to make economic decisions not emotional ones in business".

Always honest is must for all.....

we have a honest we dont get fear for anything... and we have a honest means we work with interest otherwise we cant....

also...being honest is different from being loyal to the co. one cant keep his value of honesty with a co. being involved in a fraud...while being loyal to it..raghu can be honest throughout life and can switch jobs (indeed should stay in a job for a time that co. can recover direct expences on him)to make money. Leaving a co. doesnt mean u are not loyal..if u stick there and u are nt satisfied there...den ur performance will drop...and dats nt being loyal..move on for betterment of both-u and the co.

while switching jobs in one's carrier and keeping honesty will lead him/her to a company of his/her type and its evident that value based businesses have stood high even in downturns

First check if the policy is made honestly

Dear Divya,

Nice story yet you are at best looking at just one aspect and a short term.

Loyalty and Honesty for Raghu may be a natural trait which is not there scouting for a reward it is part of him. It is the company through its functionaries that are unfortunate to loose him. The timing of appearance of the effect of sacking Raghu may take longer to appear yet they certainly would. 

Yes organizational loyalty is good and it does pay. However it does not pay that rich as in the story outlined by you. Five years is too small a period for concepts like org.loyalty to pay rich dividends. These are long term or even life time concepts.

That said, i should also point out that of all topics to examine org. loyalty under, salary is the worst one. When one changes a company, one can definitely make a quantum leap in pay check. So it is not the correct framework for comparison.

It should also be understood that people who have had long stints in organization work out better under crisis because of their extensive knowledge of the inards of the organization.

So, the question is not one of loyalty. It simply this:

DO YOU WANT TO BELONG? OR DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY FAST?

Yes Honesty is the best policy BUT to avoid people taking you for a ride or using you to your disadvantage one must learn the ART OF CONCEALING AND REVEALING.   Concealing and revealing things at right time smoothens your way in corporate world and avoids confrontations.

Working for 3 to 4 years is a must for not only showing loyalty but also learning the job fully before shifting to other co.. But even after 3 years growth is not taking place, shifting to a right co will be a wise decision.