To be offended?

[Mnfirsttimer]

I work for a big corporate with good money. A friend of a friend was joking yesterday how they too could have “sold their soul” to do similar but that they didn’t. Aibu to find this fairly offensive?! I laughed it off but it bothering me

Yup but it’s probably jealousy!

YANBU. I'd love to know where this place is that has so many jobs and so few workers that everyone can pick and choose a role that's ideologically perfect in every way.

It’s a joke. I work in public sector. Could earn more in private but don’t want to give my soul to a business. Having worked in private sector in the past so much more of me was expected. Work/life balance much poorer.

A joke at my expense though...!

It was rude, but they probably didn't mean it to be. Sometimes people say things without thinking. I'd forget about it.

Well, even if your friend genuinely believes what they said, what's the big deal?

Everyone is different, with different opinions.

I get similar fairly often. I also find it pretty hurtful. I'm not sure I've ever come up with a great way of dealing with it though.

I work for evil global Ltd. I have sold my soul and I’m living off the proceeds!! She is probably jealous because she didn’t and joe has to make it look like she has made a conscious decision to not do that type of work.

God no, YABU to be offended. They’re saying that to them it’d feel like selling their soul, not accusing you of doing the same.

Well, even if your friend genuinely believes what they said, what's the big deal?

Everyone is different, with different opinions.

Exactly. I used to work for a big corporation and I did feel that I'd sold my soul.

The context matters too - if a friend is saying it jokingly (in a nice way, rather than "deliberate offensiveness dressed up as banter") then that's very different to someone saying it as a deliberate attack. As a case in point, I've had friends and family say that the sector in which I work is "the soft option" but they're teasing. If someone else said it, I might take it more personally, or challenge what they've said. Context is everything.

Depends on who your employer is (I'm not suggesting you name them). Some corporates have excellent CSR policies, some are utter scumbags that do require a certain element of soul selling to be a part of.

Be offended if your employer is one of the good guys. Take a good look at yourself and your priorities if they're not.

I worked for the public sector for a while. I’ve never known such inefficiency and lack of dynamism in my entire life. It was soul destroying.

YANBU OP.

I used to joke that my eldest DD should work for Barclays, she was so cold and ruthless.

It was a joke.

I could easily get a decent paying job in the DWP or immigration, but with things as they are, it would be the equivalent of giving up my humanity.

I work in a city law firm but not hugely unethical from a working practices pov

What do pp mean here when they say they felt like they sold their soul in a job?

Public sector is hardly noble. DWP for instance I would consider to be as bad as the least ethical parts of the private sector.

What do pp mean here when they say they felt like they sold their soul in a job?

That I felt I was working for an organisation who did things that were perfectly legal and above board but contrary to my personal ethics.

It all depends on the context. If you were bragging about a holiday they could never afford, it's an acceptable, if defensive response. It it was out of the blue then ruse and unnecessary.

I can't imagine ever having either conversation with my friends though. I was brought up never to discuss money/earnings.

I work in a city law firm but not hugely unethical from a working practices pov

It sounds like they are unethical at least a bit then? Maybe you feel defensive because you worry there’s some truth to it?

Sounds like she hit a nerve?

so if everyone decided they couldn't 'sell their soul' and work for an investment bank, or a film production, or a law firm, what the hell will happen to all these jobs?! Some people are so strange with the things they say - probably say them to make themselves feel a bit better.

Jokes are always at someone's expense. I think you are massively overthinking this and should practice not being offended by every little thing.

I used to joke that my eldest DD should work for Barclays, she was so cold and ruthless

I used to work for Barclays. I am far from cold and ruthless! They were actually a really good company to work for... very flexible!

But yeah OP I think you’re overthinking a bit. To be honest I was happy to ‘sell my soul’ to work for a large corporate. I was paid more, had far more flexibility, better benefits and fewer working hours than when I worked in the public sector.

Pp's and op talking about working practices. It's not really about whether the company treats its staff well its about whether they do good/bad in the world. Not many banks or city law firms can claim they do good in the world.

Who is your employer some are less ethical than others.
I started my career with a well known arms exporter and left because although the job was good with good money and good prospects I couldn't reconcile it with my conscience.
Obviously that's an extreme example but I sleep much better now I work in the public sector .