As this link will relate, a set of circumstances triggered by the firing of a Finance Exec by JPMorgan Chase earlier this year may soon result in this woman, her husband and three children being evicted and put onto the streets – if we stand by and do nothing.

You can draw your own conclusions as to the “rights” and “wrongs” of her termination by putting a minute or two aside to review the details. One thing will become very clear to you: the cost of acting ethically and responsibly in the face of pressures to “just get the job done” is very expensive.

Finance – and certainly bank – professionals, claim to walk the high road and to engage in practices that will benefit our employers and ensure the integrity of their products and services. This is a good thing, as it redounds to the benefit of the financial institution, their customers and the public at large.

In practice, this is not so easy. When Linda was faced with choosing between her career and her code of ethics – which as a Six Sigma Black Belt in Finance is considerable – she was forced into the role “whistle blower.”

In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Jimmy Stewart as a young boy has his ears boxed into deafness by his pharmacist employer because he pointed out a terrible error the man had made in filling a prescription…one that could have killed or seriously harmed the recipient. The employer tearfully apologized and corrected the mistake…but the damage had been done to the boy.

Linda, too, pointed out errors that could…and will…cause similar unnecessary pain and loss. She had her ears boxed. But, let’s not have to wait to read some future acount about redemption in her case.

She needs the help. She needs it now. And there couldn’t be a better season, or reason, for giving generously.