July 3 2008: QOTW: Morality in Jobs
Filed under Q.O.T.W. & Uni/Work
I’ve recently applied for a part-time position at another organisation. I enjoy my job now, but realistically, there’s only so much one can do and learn as a store manager at a small maternity wear boutique. Two and a half years after I first started with them, and I’m finally listening to my itchy feet which are begging for a change of role and the opportunity to gain new skills. It’s a rather half-hearted search for a new position, but a search nonetheless.
I digress. The point of this entry is not to dwell on my need for change and to expand my repertoire, but rather, on a particular requirement that the advertisement listed:
Another important part of the role is the ability to be committed to and empathise with the aims of the Association.
It confuses me a bit, because surely before applying for a job with an organisation or business (any organisation or business), the applicant would make sure that it was one whose principles they could agree with? Drug dealers and the like are obviously exempt from this category, but generally speaking, I can’t see, for instance, a vegan applying to work with the meat industry, or a world peace advocate applying to work with the military. Extreme examples perhaps, but legitimate examples nonetheless.
Money is a necessity for survival in modern society, I totally understand that. However, there are most definitely other ways to earn money, other positions open, which don’t necessary compromise one’s morals and values. But that then begs the question – what type of salary package would entice someone to compromise their values for the sheer allure of money? Would $50,000 do it? Would $100,000 do it? Would $250,000 do it? Would $1 million do it? Would $5 million do it?
Question of the Week: What job would be most abhorrent to you (on the basis of the principles of the position being against your morals), and how much would your annual salary have to be to convince you to give up your morals to take the position?
11 Responses to “QOTW: Morality in Jobs”
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We had a unit like this at university whereby we had to think about the clients we would design for – would we design for a company that uses sweatshops, sells unhealthy products, chops down trees, etc.?
I came to the conclusion that even if I did design for those clients I’m not directly responsible for their ethical policy. It’s not something that really concerns me, neither is it something I can change by refusing money.
Of course there are limits – I’m not about to go work for organised crime. Otherwise that there really isn’t a company I wouldn’t work for. Not that I can think of immediately anyway.
Lil on July 3 2008 #
Moral Dilemmas… There are always a million “what if” situations, so I would say that under most normal circumstances I would not sell my soul for something I don’t believe in.
I always felt guilty when I was working at Woolworths and watched as thousands of dollars worth of fresh and packaged food was thrown out due to the incompetencies of managers and the company’s own policy of keeping a “standard” in quality. And therefore didn’t reduce particular items.
Sad really, but I can’t save the world, gotta pick and choose the right battles.
Michael on July 4 2008 #
How far do you have to take it though, I mean, I’m a really big environment freak, but I do work for a transport company.
If I were to refuse that job, someone else would take it and I would be jobless. Besides there isn’t one company (that I would want to work for) that doesn’t use trucks or planes or similar transport.
And when it comes to the environment and trying to preserve it a larger company is usually more willing and capable of investing into solutions that are less environmentally straining.
Chans on July 4 2008 #
Working with any religious institution that requires convincing people to convert to their beliefs and ideals… kind of like those door-to-door religious people you see.
Belinda on July 4 2008 #
The most abhorrent job I can think of is that of butchering animals to be eaten. My grandparents used to grow animals for eating later, and I saw my grandpa kill many animals – so cold-blooded! It disturbs me to think how often this is done to supply meat for millions of people. I don’t think I’d do it.
Another abhorrent job would be that of spreading a religion – going door to door convincing people. I think I’d do that for a big sum of money though – oh, and even a bigger amount to promote Christianity :P
Lene on July 4 2008 #
Some of my friends argue that the job doesn’t matter and it’s all about money, therefore they will work somewhere even if they absolutely HATE it as long as it makes good money.
I, on the other hand thinks that your happiness is more important because there is nothing worse than working somewhere you’ll be totally unhappy (trust me, I’ve done it before and usually quit within the first 3 months). I can’t imagine waking up every morning for the rest of your life and dragging yourself to a job you hate.
And to answer your question, I’ll sound a little bit like a hypocrite, but if the salary is really good but the job goes against my morals, I would consider taking it depending on how strongly I feel against it. If I know it will bug me everyday working there then I won’t take it but it it’s minimal and I know it won’t make me unhappy then I might actually do it for the money.
Some jobs I absolutely WOULDN’T take:
- like Lene & Belinda said above, going door to door spreading religion
- anything that will do great damage to the environment
- Killing. I’ve always thought it would be cool to be an assassin (LMAO) but I won’t have the heart to do it.
Katy on July 4 2008 #
Good question! Hmm… the most compromising job position I can think of is contract killer. Or puppy mill employee. And to be very honest, I don’t think I’d be able to do it. People couldn’t pay me enough to work at a job I absolutely hate. Every morning, waking up, having to do the horrible routine all over again… I’d rather work in an ice cream shop for minmum wage than feel like that.
Sarai on July 4 2008 #
hmm, I don’t know actually, because I’ve never thought of it. But I hold my own principles very high. I refuse to kiss ass like all the other students at uni to stand out in a class of 400+ so I might one day get a letter of recommendation. This also means that I’m screwing myself over because it’s going to be damn hard to get one. So if something like that makes me sick, I’d definitely not take a job that directly conflicts with my morals or afflicts upon anyone something I object to. It’d have to be a pretty high amount of money to do that…and also probably some desperate times too. But who knows, maybe I’m less moralled than I’d like to think.
marilyn on July 4 2008 #
I wouldn’t be able to do anything that involved grave injustice of any kind. And by grave I mean like human rights issues and the like. I’m fairly certain I’ll never need to make decisions that would result in people’s deaths, or be in a job that entails making decisions that could result in life or death, but even if I were in such a position, no amount of money would entice me.
Shen-Shen on July 4 2008 #
Anything that harms animals and the environment. More realistically, I will never be a plastic surgeon despite my parents and their friends persuading me to. I don’t like that medical field as a whole. I was considering becoming a pharmacist until I realized that I don’t agree with conventional medicine and drugs either. I have no idea what kind of doctor I’m gonna be. :(
Aravis on July 4 2008 #
Jobs I Wouldn’t Do…
A few weeks ago, Amanda blogged about Morality in Jobs. She asked a question of which the first part was “What job would be most abhorrent to you (on the basis of the principles of the position being against your morals)?”. The second part …
Dream on July 25 2008 #