Cover your ass

Cover your ass (British: cover your arse), abbreviated CYA, is an activity done by individuals to protect themselves from possible subsequent criticism, legal penalties, or other repercussions, usually in a work-related or bureaucratic context. In one sense, it may be rightful steps to protect oneself properly while in a difficult situation, such as what steps to take to protect oneself after being fired.[1] But, in a different sense, according to The New York Times' language expert William Safire, it describes "the bureaucratic technique of averting future accusations of policy error or wrongdoing by deflecting responsibility in advance".[2] It often involves diffusing responsibility for one's actions as a form of insurance against possible future negative repercussions.[2] It can denote a type of institutional risk-averse mentality which works against accountability and responsibility, often characterized by excessive paperwork and documentation,[3] which can be harmful to the institution's overall effectiveness.[4] The activity, sometimes seen as instinctive,[5] is generally unnecessary towards accomplishing the goals of the organization, but helpful to protect a particular individual's career within it, and it can be seen as a type of institutional corruption working against individual initiative.[6]

  1. ^ Miller, Korin (February 1, 2012). "Do This Immediately After Getting Laid Off". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved August 26, 2014. If you're handed a pink slip, ... make these moves to cover your butt ....
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference twsSafire was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Flanagan, Caitlin (November 1, 2007). "No Girlfriend of Mine". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 26, 2014. ...cover-your-ass devotion to documentation and paperwork ....
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference twsAtlantic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ McArdle, Megan (April 10, 2009). "The Heroes of Financial Fraud". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 26, 2014. The instinct to CYA is a normal human emotion ....
  6. ^ Dixon, David, ed. (1999). "A Culture of Corruption". A Culture of Corruption: Changing an Australian Police Service. Hawkins Press. ISBN 9781876067106. Retrieved August 26, 2014 – via Google Books. This 'cover your ass' perspective pervades all of patrol work ... bureaucratic paranoia ... not take the initiative on the street ....