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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go for a job that is against my principles

100 replies

thinkingmakesitso · 08/01/2016 12:36

I have seen a job advertised that in many ways would be my perfect role, as well as being a big pay rise.

However, I have political objections to the company and, in fact, the company (or others of its kind) have been the subject of my rantings many a time.

But...it is my perfect role, and that is a role that doesn't really exist in the way I want it to anymore, so this could be my only chance for such an opportunity.

Tbh, I don't think I would get it anyway as I don't meet all aspect of the spec, but WIBU to even go for it? Anyone done similar?

OP posts:

EssentialHummus · 08/01/2016 16:22

I've said no to a secondment with British American Tobacco (junior lawyer) but I think if my mortgage depended on it / push came to shove I'd suck it up and endure.

If you have the choice, though, it really depends on the strength of your feelings - though I'm also curious about your objection as (being outside the field) I can't imagine the issues with academy chains.

Shallishanti · 08/01/2016 16:25

I think your dilemma is bit different to what most people here assumed and are discussing. I would never work for a tobacco company because there are no circumstances in which the marketing of tobacco is acceptable (I'm hard me)
But the business of an academy is education and presumably you feel education in itself is valuable, you just don't agree that it is best delivered by academies. So I think, while people may roll their eyes at you a bit, you might reasonably argue that you can still be of benefit to the young people the academies are supposed to be serving. Unless your post is more strategic and aimed at poaching schools from LAs, that would be unethical.

shovetheholly · 08/01/2016 16:26

I wouldn't. But that's because I personally think that it's these choices that define who we really are.

I know others will disagree - this is just what's true for me.

BikeRunSki · 08/01/2016 16:28

^It depends how strongly you feel I suppose. Is it nestle?
I am proud of where I work and that's s big deal to me^

This, completely this.

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 16:32

Go for it and dont even question it.
Your rants and objections in the past about this company could not have been that genuine or serious otherwise you would not consider the job.
If you detest this company that much why would you want to work for them even if the role was fantastic. Hypocrite springs to mind
But still go for it

scarlets · 08/01/2016 16:33

I know a ranty leftie who forgot that she was a ranty leftie when a perfect part-time teaching role came up at a very local private school. In fairness she was a struggling single parent and the only child of an ailing mum, and she very rarely put her own practical needs first. I told her to go for it. People took the mickey a bit.

The only employer I would eschew is UKIP. I disagree with them on most things and it would be embarrassing. Would work for Cons, LD, Green or Labour though.

I can't think of any other companies. No problems with any. Something like Babestation or Nuts magazine would be a bit shaming.

Viviennemary · 08/01/2016 16:34

Depends what it is. And how much you want the job extra money or whatever. Only you can answer this. I think I'd go for it. unless it was something awful.

tethersend · 08/01/2016 16:41

"Part or me thinks that these chains are unstoppable now anyway, so I may as well join now - my school may be overtaken by one at some point anyway"

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. The govt's aim is for all schools to become academies so, in a way, resistance is futile. However, I feel the same as you, I do not support this ideal.

If it's an unusual role on teachers' pay and conditions, apply. You've got to get it where you can in teaching at the moment.

FuckOffJeffrey · 08/01/2016 16:46

I think it depends on how strong you feel OP. I don't know too much about academies and the differences in education or why you would have objections to working for them. I do remember reading something in the guardian last year about an academy chain in England that was investigated over a paying fees to a particular company type of scandal. A bit like the MP's expenses claims type of thing.

Is it something similar to that OP?

If it's something like that but you don't object to the over all principles or ethics of the company then I would say go for the job.

There are some companies I would never work for because what they stand (for example I couldn't do something like admin for a political party I do not agree with or work for a cosmetics company that tests on animals). Other things I could brush off - I worked for one of the big banking companies for a number of years but my role was in no way anything to do with the irresponsible lending / selling of rubbish insurance products etc. I wasn't particularly high paid and my role was mainly dealing with and resolving complaints and I did enjoy it for the most part even if I didn't agree with the actions or decisions made by some of the bigwigs.

I did however once leave a job that paid well and was enjoyable once I found out the (relatively well known and large) company was heavily involved with the Nazis in WW2. (Building the gas chambers in Auschwitz and the like). I couldn't bring myself to knowingly work for a company associated with that.

TheSnowFairy · 08/01/2016 17:15

My friend told me she worked for UKIP. I was

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 17:33

I think we all want to know what the objections are?
Hate these guessing game threads. Just get to the point!

Original poster

thinkingmakesitso · 08/01/2016 17:49

I'm not playing guessing games - I would have thought most people were interested would know my objections to academies without my having to spell them out. I would like to go back to the days of LEA run schools that were wholly funded through public money. That is never going to happen - even if future governments but the brakes on the scheme, there is no going back once you have gone this far if other industries are anything to go by.

In the role I would certainly be able to make a difference, yes.

OP posts:

Original poster

thinkingmakesitso · 08/01/2016 17:53

So, to clarify, Google shows up nothing shocking or in anyway bad about this particular chain. But I wish there was no such thing as academies. But there is so...

OP posts:

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 08/01/2016 17:59

I would never take a job which was against my principles.

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 18:18

OP in light of the fact this 'company' has done nothing unethical or harmed anyone then I would take the job. You are over thinking to the point of possibly cutting off your nose to spite you face. I thought it was going to be something terrible like experimenting on animals or something!
Go for it without a second thought.....and good luck

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 18:20

PiperisTerry
No of course you wouldnt you would rather starve then would you?
Or do you have a choice?

Bogeyface · 08/01/2016 18:23

I have ethical objections to Nestle, but they are a major local employer.

Would I swallow my objections to feed my family? Yes. Would I to further my career? No.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 08/01/2016 18:28

I worked at Nestle. My very first job was there - they hired me as an orphan, with no relevant work experience, no permanent address. I was aware of the water privatisation controversy, and to a lesser extent the formula argument, but at 17 and fending for myself, they didn't seem that important. I was also a lot closer to the good that Nestle do - the academies and apprenticeships, etc.

I left after a few months because I found what I was good at. I don't regret working there. I'm saddened that their ethics are what they are, especially now I'm older, but they took a chance on me and I'm grateful for that. As a young, homeless person, the chance pretty much changed my life.

Do I have to hand back my MN membership now?

Everytimeref · 08/01/2016 18:30

I dont agree with the academies, its definitely privatisation by the backdoor but unfortunately my school is being taken over by a chain and nothing I can do as there are very schools locally that arent part of a chain.

DinosaursRoar · 08/01/2016 18:36

so the company itself hasn't done anything wrong.

The 'product' they are 'producing' is 'free at the point of use education', which is something you have no problem with.

It's just the fact that it's a company and not a charity or state organisation providing the 'product' that you take umbridge at, then I'd say swallow your principles and go for it.

Cococo1 · 08/01/2016 18:46

In this situation I would definitely go for the job. They are here to stay and perfect jobs don't come up often.

tethersend · 08/01/2016 18:50

Is it a non teaching role?

Because that might sway opinions one way or another

Anotherusername1 · 08/01/2016 18:54

I was offered a role at a pharmaceutical firm. I rejected the offer because of animal rights. Not because of any lofty ideals but I was harassed after my second interview there (leaving the office) - I said I didn't work there and then they said "why are you doing business with them then" and I said I wasn't doing that either and left. But it was a wake-up call to the kind of hassle I might get. A few years later my neighbour was accused of some unsavoury sexual crimes by animal rights protesters - I think he worked at the same company I'd interviewed at and there was a security van in our road keeping watch for a few weeks.

Later I was nearly seconded from a law firm to a cigarette firm but it didn't happen for reasons I can't recall now. I was glad I didn't have to do the role but would have had to do it if I'd wanted to keep my job at the law firm. I did have to do some arms-length client work for them but not much of it and as someone said above, at least I was bringing some sort of ethics to the situation. You don't always have a choice if you have a mortgage to pay.

Anotherusername1 · 08/01/2016 18:56

I can't understand that to be honest. Nobody working at that company now was probably even born in 1939, never mind involved in Nazi crimes.

NotCitrus · 08/01/2016 19:54

I work with environmental types. Lots of young ethical people want to create small perfectly-ethical businesses that usually have to be expensive as they are both devoting funds to lots of due diligence and more expensive resources, as well as lacking economies of scale.

Eventually they either try to defend producing these expensive items that hardly anyone can afford (food, clothes, tech, whatever), or end up working for a huge multinational in their divisions devoted to improving sustainability and ethics. And get criticised, but which is more effective - creating a niche market in the UK for say pesticide-free food, or reducing pesticides in food across the world by say 5%?

Have to admit I haven't friended the person on LinkedIn who I studied with and has since worked for BAT - for 18 years.

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