My boss is forcing me to ship a feature that has not been approved by product to inflate ad revenue at the cost of user experience metrics. This is not the first time I have been forced to merge code by my manager that does not align with PM spec. Last time, I was forced to do this, I merged a feature that existed, but was not executed in the way the PM spec specified, because my manager ordered me to do it his way. The backlash in response was huge for this slight diversion from spec. Imagine the backlash I would receive for a feature that does not even exist in the spec and my friends say this look like a "huge bug" and is used to inflate ad revenue. Specifically the feature is to make all the white space near ads and search results clickable, so it can collect ad revenue from clicks on white space near an ad. Please vote in poll and comment any suggestions what you would do. #google #faang #microsoft #apple #facebook #meta #netflix #amazon
What you guys earn money just by clicking white spaces? 🥲🥲
now we do!
Tell manager your concerns. If they get angry and/or cannot be swayed you can talk to your skip?
Switch jobs
I am sure your manager is also on blind, and now they know your concerns after reading this post.
Notify the PM of your manager’s request and ask them to confirm the decision.
Send an email confirming your understanding to your manager and cc pm.
This is exactly what I would do.
“make all the white space near ads and search results clickable” sounds like a bug to me.
Get it written in email, if someone gives you trouble, say you did your due diligence and at the end you had to submit to your superior’s decision
If your manager is "ordering" you to shop a feature, and it's established that your manager has the authority to order you to ship it (which they most commonly do), make sure it's documented that he asked you to ship it, that you raised concerns, and he asked to ship it anyway, and then ship it. If someone wants to get pissed at me for shipping something I was explicitly told to ship even after raising concerns, they can go fuck themselves.
Dude you already made this post
I know I'm still confused, sorry!
Make sure you make the right decision. You’ll have a hell of a behavioral story to tell in future interviews.