Comments on: Can Anyone Explain Why Employers Should Have Rights?

By: Brian W.

Brian W. — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:02:14 +0000

I view it like this. When you take a job, you go into that job with certain expectations. Your company hires you and pays you to do that job. If everything is to your liking and your work is up to the companies standards then all is well.

Taking your example of working for a bank selling morally questionable products, if they refuse your request to not sell these items you now have a decision. Your company expected you to perform the job they have hired you to do (sell investments). You no longer wish to do part of that job (sell investments you find morally wrong).

Now the question is simple. You either need to face up to your morals and quit the job or else do the job you were hired for. Yes, it’s an unpleasant choice but it’s an honest choice and morals often require hard decisions that can inconvenience the person espousing the morals.

To keep the job and then refuse to perform as expected is a cop out. After all, you’re still being paid for the work and you’re only doing part of it now. If it’s truly a question of morals, you’re also now taking what you should be viewing as dirty money (money that partially comes from sources that you view as morally wrong). It’s also unfair to your fellow employees. They’re now doing the work you should be doing and not receiving anything extra for the work load you’ve shirked off on them.

So basically, morals are fine but sometimes having those morals requires hard decisions that can be an inconvenience (or more) to you. For if it’s something that you truly believe in and feel is right, you should be prepared to suffer for it. Just wanting to make others suffer while you still reap the benefits… that’s just soulless.

By: keithf

keithf — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:12:34 +0000

And that’s why, Stranger, you will always be a cog.

By: stranger

stranger — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:20:07 +0000

Yeah, I think my employer should respect my rights to… take two hour lunch breaks… or simply decided not to do a task because I think the task unnecessary.

Come on, of course you give up rights to do whatever you want to do. You’re being paid to follow the policies and priorities of the person paying you.

By: keithf

keithf — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:37:32 +0000

That’s basically why I avoided the gay / religious rights parts of the story — there was far more to it than that, and the squabbling (right or wrong on either side) has clouded the issue dreadfully.

Good comments tho’.

By: Markus Laumann

Markus Laumann — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:46:43 +0000

Other sources about this woman mention that two other registrars had problems with this same issue. One of them found another job and the other did a lateral move inside the organization (I agree with these solutions). This lady spoke openly about how she thought same-sex unions were supporting gay sex and how that was sinful – in front of several gay co-workers! I don’t think that refusing to change positions and spouting religious bigotry is an acceptable way to address workplace issues.

As for your comment on working for the commercial machine, don’t give corporations any power above what they were created to do: remove the financial (not moral) responsibility of an endeavor from someone. It is a tool to be used by people to achieve an end, not the monstrosities some very visible ones have become.

Money is the blood of the corporation but employees are the organs. Just because one employee decides not to work doesn’t mean the organism is responsible for carrying the dead weight. In the same light, if enough employees leave the corporation must change or it will cease to function. The employee is responsible for upholding their own morals. Any employee that finds their job description changing beyond their comfort zone should not forget that doing something morally reprehensible because they pay you is no way to live your life.