Is it fortunate or unfortunate I have very limited amounts of "tact and diplomacy"? (Like none really!)
I made it a rule that upon saying "No".....the more someone up the greasy pole of management tried to coerce me into flying....the more adamant and less tactful I became about stating I would not fly.
At one location I told the CP...."The keys are in it....you're wearing your bars....have at it big boy!" The CP told another pilot to take my co-pilot and aircraft and get flying. The shock on the CP's face when the Co-pilot said...."If my Captain doesn't go....I won't go!" was very amusing to all but the CP.
Being single, having no children, and being debt free made it a lot easier stick my neck out on those very few occasions when job security was at risk for saying "No".