Need some advice about work

I need some advice (and to vent) about work. You guys are great with advice, and I don't really have anywhere else to post this and have to be careful who I talk to about it in my personal life.

I am an HR leader at a large retail department store. They do a lot of shady things there in management, which I've tried to distance myself from. Today, my manager told me to terminate two associates from the department I managed before I moved to HR. He told me to terminate them with the "dissatisfied with pay" option, meaning that they had voluntarily quit. I thought it didn't sound right because I know them both, but I did it.

Later that day the new leader of that department asked me if my manager spoke to me about those 2 associates because the one texted her giving his availability to work for Thanksgiving break. I told her I already terminated them, and at that moment I realized I was lied to and neither associate is aware they were fired. I know my manager told me to choose the "pay" option for them to cover the store from unemployment claims and other issues with firing long-term associates.

So tomorrow I plan to e-mail corporate and tell them I was misinformed and that these associates did not quit, but my manager wants them terminated, so I will open a case for each to have it investigated. I will probably get into quite a bit of trouble for this from my store manager since he wants them fired, but I am pretty sure they can't fire me over refusing to forge paperwork.

I have a feeling a lot of these situations will continue with other associates, and they expect me to lie and cover it up.

My question is, how much of this would you fight before quitting or finding another job? I am strapped by finances, but it is not worth the stress and chest pains I've been having over this awful job. I am wondering if I can get in trouble (and what kind of trouble) for signing those termination forms without proper proof of the associates quitting, since I myself did not hear it from them, which is why I will e-mail corporate to set it straight. I am just so angry and upset over how things are handled there and how I am always being lied to by my managers.

I texted one of the associates and found out his new manager (who I really quite dislike) did not even tell him he was fired, she just ignored his text. She is only 22 and a new manager, but her way of dealing with conflict is to ignore and stop scheduling her associates. It really bothers me because I loved that department when I ran it, and I really liked all of the associates. I feel guilty for moving to HR and leaving them in this mess now.

My own opinion and i am not sure whether i have fully grasped your situation but as far as i am concerned the boss is responsible for hiring and firing. He also should not make you tell lies about the situation. I never ask anyone to do a job that i would not do myself. What i find let your conscience be your guide, and no one can order you to do something that is wrong. I think you are right in standing up to your boss, atleast you can sleep at night knowing you have done the right thing.