Do you care who you work for?

[Cocochai]

This is a hypothetical situation where you had a choice (ignore all financial considerations).

Does it matter if it’s a corporate giant, a small company or a charity etc etc as long as you get paid and the job itself and colleagues are ok?

I’ve been going a lot of volunteering in the last year for two local charities and it’s opened my eyes so much that the thought of going back to working for a corporate giant (which is where I’ve always worked) and a thankless job does not inspire me anymore. I am more leaning toward looking for roles in the charity sector (which I am aware has its pitfalls too).

I’ve been offered an interview for a p/t job at a company that provides specific luxury services and upon researching their website to prepare for the interview my gut just says no. No, I am not jealous of people with money (our household is in the top earning bracket). I just think at what I’ve learnt and observed in the charity sector and everything just screams no, this isn’t what I want now. But I’ve been out of the workforce for a while now (SAHM) and they’ve apparently considered me not a total write-off like many employers would. I don’t know what to do.

You have to be able to live with wahtever job you do, but in my experience many of the worst employers I have come across have been charities / third sector. Just because you say you have prnciples doesn't mean that extends to decent terms or conditions for your employees.

Does it matter if it’s a corporate giant, a small company or a charity etc

This wouldn’t factor in my decision. I work for a large corporate but I don’t feel I’m in a thankless or purposeless job. My job aligns with my personal values. I’m happy with the company values, the care for staff and customers, the striving to change things for the better e.g. in terms of ethical investing and ESG etc. it’s not perfect but nowhere is, and it’s the vision to change and make a difference and the commitment to staff and customers that I like.

Bit of a side thought - I think the argument about supporting small businesses vs large is a bit odd. Large businesses are made up of individuals and people power is huge when we come together. Neither model is wrong, both have their place and will be suited to different people and business purposes.

I would just take each job opportunity/company on its merits and make sure it aligns with your own values.

I do, I worked in finance for a long time and I wouldn’t go back,

Being a volunteer for a charity and being an employee of a charity are very different experiences.

Charities generally go out of their way to ensure volunteers are having a great experience and feel what they are doing is valuable - because otherwise they wouldn't be able to secure free labour. Employees do NOT have the same experience.

I'd take the employment option available and do volunteering in my spare time for the fulfillment/ meaning / purpose.

Caveat: I wouldn't work for any entity whose ethics clashed with mine - eg tobacco companies.

It matters to me who I work for. My job is related to countering fraud. We give good value for a job well done, and I sleep nights. I can do my job (marketing) knowing I'm being truthful.

Marketing a service I don't believe in is not something that would sit well with me.

The issue you seem to have is working with wealthy people when others are struggling. It's your choice, you have to be able to face yourself in the mirror.

It does to me. I have gone back into the private sector recently after a long time, and it’s one of the things I am really struggling with. The money is nice though!

Yes it matters to me. I have previously worked in the public sector, and now for the last 10 years in the charity sector. Neither are perfect, much depends on the leadership, but that is true of any organisation. Public service, and a job with meaning is what motivates me.

I have worked in retail, and on Brighton pier, both of those jobs were terrible, low pay, poor conditions. I was young and they were low status "McJiobs".

I like my current employer and the job is hard mainly because we are dealing with people in food poverty and distress. I would like more stable funding and job security.

It matters to me. I want the people I work with to be nice. But, Isn't loyalty long gone though, they'd get rid of you tomorrow if it suited them. One concern with a luxury item is that is col rises more, luxury goods are one of the first things to go.

In your shoes I would take the role for a year so you get your experience back up and if it isn't quite what you're comfortable with from an ethical perspective then spend that year skilling up on where you'd like to end up. I currently work for a large corp of over 100k people and don't love it but do appreciate the salary for the mortgage. Ideally I'd work for a mid size more ethical company but right now with costs as they are and a pension pot not quite where it needs to be I'm sitting tight.

Actually luxury goods are pretty good at riding out recessions and COL. Generally people that are buying luxury goods in the first place aren't the ones most impacted by COL crises. They also don't rely on the typical supply and demand model. I think it's a pretty stable industry.

It does and does not matter as it depends on what one is aims are

I think it depends on the job you are doing. I have always worked for charities but I'm hoping to move into the corporate world soon because I can actually have a bigger long term positive impact than I can in a charity - I woke in the ESG space

It matters to me. Every single job I've had since graduation has been for a charity - from huge national ones to tiny local ones. There have been some frustrations but, with very few exceptions, almost all my colleagues have been lovely. I've also returned to volunteer at the last two charities I've worked at despite now working somewhere else.

I don't see the two as mutually exclusive tbh.

As long as the values align with mine, and are backed up....I'll work there.
E.g. equality

I worked for two major players in my industry, both said they cared about equality and diversity. One was staffed by 99% white males, there were 20 women across the 5 sites, none in management.

The other, very diverse multicultural work force, equal men to women ratio in management, very hot on making sure everyone is heard and respected.

So I'm very happy there despite them being a "major corporation" even if no one outside my industry has heard of them. Without them, supply chains would fail across the world.

I do work for a charity, I do care about the cause, I do feel proud that what I do ‘is making a difference’ and in my role (not low level fundraising) I feel I make a big difference.

But no, I would say I would work for someone else with different values. For me it’s about happiness in my role, it’s about the people I work with.