Could you work for a tobacco company

[widgitfidgit]

I have honestly never given it a thought before today, but over lunch a fiend told me her husband got a new job with a tobacco company. My instant thought was "nope I couldn't" but I don't think I would feel the same about working for an alcohol company.

No. I wouldn’t work for a gambling company either.

I would have done in the past. A friend worked for Imperial and they were fabulous employers with wages and pensions. Don’t think it’s as good now so no point.

You can't advertise or promote tobacco products so this would not be an issue. Vapes, yes. Within limits.

I worked at BAT and the tobacco section didn't even have a marketing or legal section as it's so restricted.

Not in the UK, I know. But overseas markets?

What about oil/fossil fuel companies? No scruples at all it would seem but they employ a lot of people in a lot of roles around the globe

Many decades ago I worked for BAT. Fabulous company to work for with amazing benefits. I got bored, had a career change after re training and left to work for.... Amerada Hess, an oil company. What can I say, I was young, morals didn't really feature. 🤷‍♀️ I would make different choices if I had my time again.

I would struggle. Ditto gambling. I don't judge those that do - people have to earn a living - it just wouldn't give me job satisfaction. I've been very lucky to have spent my career mostly in jobs that I felt passionately about.

Oh exactly. I don't judge those who do! I just don't think i could.

Although I do judge celebrities who advertise gambling companies.

Same. Had this discussion with marketing friends lately. Gambling was top of my list.

Do you all make sure your pension funds aren't in tobacco ?

Alcohol is way more addictive than gambling and caused many times more issues in society.

A far higher percentage of people who drink have alcohol problems than people who gamble have gambling issues.

The government estimates alcohol related issues cost the economy £20bn compared with just £1bn for gambling.

Yes I would work for them if the package was right. People don't have to smoke.

No.

But I have the luxury of being able to work in organisations which either align with, or at worst do not conflict with, my principles.

But I grew up near Nottingham and my family knew many people who worked at John Players, the cigarette factory which was one of the city’s major employers for decades. Generations of working class people were employed there & earned livings which enabled them to raise their families & buy their own homes. I’m certainly not going to criticise those people for the choices they made. In their position, I might have done likewise.

Yes if the salary was great 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm in cannabis retail, and tobacco companies own some of the cannabis companies, so in a round about way I do.

No, I couldn’t.
Generations of family died of lung cancer… including my Dad.
It’s totally unethical industry which plays on vulnerable people, especially in 3rd world countries.
Smoking almost certainly causes an early death for everyone who smokes.

Yep worked for them. Had a fantastic wage and benefits, they really looked after their employees. Had a share save scheme taken out of my monthly wage which when matured, the shares had shot up and paid for a 2 storey extension on the house and loft conversion. Paid off my mortgage with the generous redundancy package. Bought a brand new car.

I've got quite a bit of memorabilia which was handing out to staff over the years and sold a couple of ebay, but I'm keeping the rest to remind me.

I loved working for them and was gutted they left the UK.

Still got shares in them.

wouldnt be my choice but never say never if it were between job there or no job

Yes I would. I wouldn't work for an animal testing facility or an abattoir though

I've never smoked tobacco but yes, I would. A job's a job.

Never in a million years.

I think there is a difference in the job roles here. I too am a marketeer. It's a lot more than advertising related jobs. In the tobacco industry these roles will be pr related, sponsorship, public affairs etc.
It's difficult to do those types of activities if you are in conflict with the organisation.

No way.

I don’t smoke but yes, if it was an interesting job with good pay.
the one I would veto (assuming I had choices) would be oil.

I once met somehow who worked on market expansion for Philip Morris focused on Africa - specifically getting poor African kids hooked on cigarettes to expand their future markets as sales decreased in the West. And he was married to a GP! The mind boggles.