Another way to look at it is that modern capitalist societies require you to have a job to participate in said society and the benefits it incurs. It's a work to live system. And these companies care only about profits, not people, and they will fire anyone at the drop of a hat if it means dividends for investors or protecting executive bonuses. There is absolutely no benefit to loyalty nor honesty because the companies themselves do not have these virtues.

There's also the fact that despite efforts in recent years to control biases in the hiring process and promotions; it still creeps in. The odds are stacked against people from minority demographics from getting work at all let alone a decent paying job. It often doesn't matter how well they do or whether they play by the rules.

It seems a bit cynical if you believe the world should be mostly meritocratic but unfortunately it's not.

In some ways cheating is the morally correct course of action.