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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think my friend has a good argument for refusing to attend this job interview?

205 replies

listsandbudgets · 29/04/2014 20:21

She's going anyway because even though she argued until she was in floods of tears, the job centre have told her that if she does not she'll have her benefits taken away.

She's strictly vegan and has been since her mid teens - she's now in her late 30s. She won't even wear leather shoes. They are sending her to be interviewed for a job in an abattoir Shock Normally I'd say if people can work they should but surely she's got a good argument for not going for this job?

What on earth can she do? Will she be sanctioned if she lets them know her views during the interview and does her best not to get the job?

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 29/04/2014 20:22

Is she going to be on the line or in the office? She only has to attend the interview right? She doesn't have to actually be good enough for the job to get it.......

Burren · 29/04/2014 20:22

Has she said this to the Job Centre people? I would have imagined they had some get out clauses on ethical and cultural grounds - surely no one is going to send, say, an observant Muslim to interview for a job in a pork sausage processing plant...?

HerRoyalNotness · 29/04/2014 20:23

I mean, appear good enough at the interview!!

Original poster
listsandbudgets · 29/04/2014 20:24

Its on the line :( Not sure she'd even agree to being in the offices to be honest.

OP posts:
ikeaismylocal · 29/04/2014 20:25

What was the job? I'd imagine there is lots of loading, admin, cleaning type jobs that don't actually involve killing animals, my dad worked in an abattoir despite being a vegetarian, when there are no other jobs you sometimes have to do jobs you don't like.

ArcheryAddict · 29/04/2014 20:25

I would tell her to ring the council and explain her predicament also I'm not sure I'm these situations but you can dispute the councils decisions have them reviewed; I would look into that as you just write a letter explaining why you're disputing the decision they have made.

If that doesn't work she will just have to be utterly awful at the interview.

celticghurl · 29/04/2014 20:26

Thats the government for you. Total twatty swines.

TattyDevine · 29/04/2014 20:26

Tricky one! Whilst I am not vegan I would not want a job in an abattoir. But I'd have to attend in those circumstances, so I guess she will too! She will just have to go in with a bad attitude, greasy hair, and pick her nose and eat it (that's vegan right?) so as not to get the job.

celticghurl · 29/04/2014 20:26

Thats the government for you. Total twatty swines.

TattyDevine · 29/04/2014 20:27

Or once they've interviewed her and they do the obligatory "do you have any questions" bit she could launch a full on attack about animal rights and welfare and shiz?

Chocotrekkie · 29/04/2014 20:27

No she doesn't have to attend but if she is claiming job seeking benefits then they will be stopped if she doesn't take steps to find a job.

If she has argued with them about not going to an interview then she will need to be careful as she has put herself on the radar.

If she goes to the interview and obviously "throws" it by swearing or talking about her views on animals etc the job centre do ask for feedback and they will sanction her if they feel she wasn't being serious about the job.

Andrewofgg · 29/04/2014 20:29

To prefer benefits to working in the office is precious and preposterous. If she throws the interview and lets the interviewer know why the company should indeed report it and she should indeed be sanctioned.

Oh, and if she gets the job she should not deliberately offend her colleagues by spreading her opinions. There is room in the world for vegans and for meat-eaters and sometimes they have to rub shoulders and get on with each other - especially in the workplace.

nippysweetie82 · 29/04/2014 20:29

Tell her to contact the Daily Mail!
I'm vegetarian and there's no way I'd be willing to work in an abbattoir, it's totally against my beliefs. If she attends the interview she'll really need to make her views known.

momb · 29/04/2014 20:30

At the risk of appearing like a Daily Mail reader (which I'm not); if she is qualified for this job then she should go for the interview on the grounds that those paying taxes are currently subsidising her and if she refuses the interview then taxpayers (most of whom are not vegan) are subsidising her lifestyle choices.
That said, I'm sure that she is eloquent and intelligent enough to not land herself a job for which she has a moral objection, and therefore can sort this put for herself without involving the job centre staff in her decision.

ikeaismylocal · 29/04/2014 20:31

I don't think it's unreasonable for her to let them know about her views on animal rights but I do wonder whereshe draws the line, is working in a shop and therefore handling mean unacceptable, what about shoe shops, farms, restaurants/cafes which serve meat?

I thought being a vegan was deciding not to eat animal products not deciding not to have anything to do with animal products.

MaryWestmacott · 29/04/2014 20:33

oh wait, she'd actually have to deal with the dead animals? Surely she can object on ethical grounds? I guess not Sad

Who's her local MP? I'd be contacting them about this.

arethereanyleftatall · 29/04/2014 20:33

Is this the first interview they've asked her to go to? If so, it's a bit mean.
Or has she been on benefits for Yonks, turning down other interviews? If so, then it's not mean.

Ruushii · 29/04/2014 20:34

Bit of a difference between a shop that sells meat, a restaurant that serves meat and a place where the animals are actually slaughtered Grin

somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:34

I think this is difficult.

The idea of working in an abattoir revolts me but I really do think it is tenuous grounds. I have a friend who won't go into Primark for example and McDonald's technically wouldn't be suitable for a vegan either. But an abattoir would be awful, I can see that - but I think on the whole I think she should go.

WooWooOwl · 29/04/2014 20:35

I would hate to have to work in an abbatoir so I sympathise, but your friend could just go to the interview and tell then politely that she's a strict vegan. She'd be unlikely to be offered the job anyway if they knew that.

I don't think she's in a position to be choosy about jobs tbh, and if she does want to be choosy, then no ones forcing her to claim benefits.

parentalunit · 29/04/2014 20:35

She should absolutely go to the interview, and should try to get the job. If she doesn't want the job, then don't take it, but in that instance she should not receive any government money. I see no reason for taxpayers to fund her personal choices.

Salazar · 29/04/2014 20:35

Job centre sent me in a similar situation. OP, your friend should just go, tell them exactly how she feels - that's the job centre will remove benefits if she didn't turn up - and sabotage the interview.

I used the phrase 'please don't give me this job, I really do not want it' in my interview!

It was incredibly liberating. And I still got my benefits until something I loved came along.

Joules68 · 29/04/2014 20:35

Would she also turn down jobs selling leather products or cooking meat? I mean, where does her objections end? Could dodge working forever this way....

HerRoyalNotness · 29/04/2014 20:35

Oooh bugger, on the line. I eat meat and wouldn't work on the line.

Joules68 · 29/04/2014 20:36

And go in to an interview and waste everyone's time is a way to ensure you are reported