Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

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NickNack
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Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by NickNack »

The question is in the title, I'm currently unemployed because I feel like I don't want to work at a store that supports the exploitation of animals but is this too extreme? Am I limiting my options unnecessarily or should I continue to search for jobs that don't support animal exploitation?
Schubert
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by Schubert »

I think you should be more clear about what you mean when you say exploitation of animals.


Does it mean working at a grocery store with a built-in butchery
Does it mean working at a grocery store that carries milk
Does it mean working at a leather store? etc.

Anyway, answering your question: It is absolutely not too extreme, but you are limiting your options. I wouldn't dare to say it's unnecessarily, there is nothing wrong about expecting and wanting to work in a space where you feel morally ok considering you will be spending there quite a bit of time, so it's a no brainer to me.

Hope things get better mate! and don't be too hard on yourself if you have to concede at some time because things get rough, it's ultimately not your fault.
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NickNack
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by NickNack »

@Schubert
Got any suggestions for vegan friendly minimum wage jobs?
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thebestofenergy
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by thebestofenergy »

Think of the consequences it will have by you having the job vs you not having the job.

By having the job, you'll be part of the supply that fills the demand.
By not having the job, someone else will take your place of being part of the supply that fills the demand.

You're not increasing the demand of animal products by being part of the supply, it's not an issue. Whether you take that job or someone else will, the spot will get filled to supply the demand, and if not, the demand will go to another place where there's a bigger supply.
You won't affect the amount of animal products by working at a place, I wouldn't worry.

That said, think of your mental health. While serving at a restaurant shouldn't affect you much, working at a slaughter house is something you'd probably want to avoid for your own good.

If you're going to be part of the chain of supply, you might actually be able to do some good: like suggesting your higher ups to include some vegan options if you work at a restaurant, making an argument for increased profit for offering a supply for the increasing vegan demand.
For evil to prevail, good people must stand aside and do nothing.
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Your_Construct
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by Your_Construct »

Do you have a support network? Meaning do you have people you can fall back on who can provide you with food and shelter? Such as parents, relatives, or good friends. If you have a support network then don't take the job. If you don't have a support network, then I think taking the job could be forgivable as long as you are trying to eventually leave it.

www.yourconstruct3.blogspot.com
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NickNack
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by NickNack »

@thebestofenergy
If enough people chose to not work at places that funded animal exploitation, do you think that could make a difference as to how many animal products would be produced to meet the demand in the first place? Will demand most likely always be met when we are talking about animal products in this present time?
Last edited by NickNack on Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:01 am, edited 3 times in total.
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NickNack
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by NickNack »

@Your_Construct
Yeah, I'm 18 and live with my parents, I'm well fed and everything, no survival problems currently
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brimstoneSalad
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by brimstoneSalad »

thebestofenergy wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:54 am Think of the consequences it will have by you having the job vs you not having the job.

By having the job, you'll be part of the supply that fills the demand.
By not having the job, someone else will take your place of being part of the supply that fills the demand.
NickNack's reply highlights an exception to this:
NickNack wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 6:56 am @thebestofenergy
If enough people chose to not work at places that funded animal exploitation, do you think that could make a difference as to how many animal products would be produced to meet the demand in the first place? Will demand most likely always be met when we are talking about animal products in this present time?
If enough people say no, these companies will have to offer increasingly higher wages if the jobs are undesirable -- like the people who dive into sewer systems to remove blockages.
Higher required wages mean they have to raise the prices, and demand at those prices would likely be lower.

However, this isn't necessarily the case with minimum wage jobs, because the minimum wage is an artificial salary floor that doesn't necessarily reflect the market.
E.g. people may be willing to work for $5 an hour, but are not allowed to, so there may not be any plausible level of protest that would force them to raise the wages. Even if the job were seen as bad and people would only be willing to work at $7 an hour instead of $5, the $10 minimum wage ensures that difference is never expressed in the market.

(worth adding to the article on the topic, maybe)

thebestofenergy wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:54 amYou won't affect the amount of animal products by working at a place, I wouldn't worry.
Unless you do a very good job. There's something to be said for dragging your feet and doing the bare minimum not to get fired at these places, because you *really* want to benefit them. You want to be the worst possible employee they'll tolerate.

thebestofenergy wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:54 amIf you're going to be part of the chain of supply, you might actually be able to do some good: like suggesting your higher ups to include some vegan options if you work at a restaurant, making an argument for increased profit for offering a supply for the increasing vegan demand.
Or more importantly, when customers ask "What's good?" suggest the salad. Waiters at some restaurants are often asked for suggestions and can nudge patrons in a more plant based direction.
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thebestofenergy
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by thebestofenergy »

brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:06 pm
thebestofenergy wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:54 am Think of the consequences it will have by you having the job vs you not having the job.

By having the job, you'll be part of the supply that fills the demand.
By not having the job, someone else will take your place of being part of the supply that fills the demand.
NickNack's reply highlights an exception to this:
NickNack wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 6:56 am @thebestofenergy
If enough people chose to not work at places that funded animal exploitation, do you think that could make a difference as to how many animal products would be produced to meet the demand in the first place? Will demand most likely always be met when we are talking about animal products in this present time?
If enough people say no, these companies will have to offer increasingly higher wages if the jobs are undesirable -- like the people who dive into sewer systems to remove blockages.
Higher required wages mean they have to raise the prices, and demand at those prices would likely be lower.
Yes, it's true that at a certain point the supply being too weak would drive up prices.
But we're far off this point, in the west.
If you refuse to take the job, one of the one hundred unemployed people waiting in line behind you will take it instead.

Maybe there is a certain place in countries like Israel, where the community is so against animal products it would actually work to drive up prices by boycotting being part of the supply.
But I don't see this being the case anywhere with the US, Canada, Europe, and the vast majority of places anywhere else.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on how many vegans are in your area though, because after a certain threshold it would just be better to switch to working at vegan/vegan-friendly places with the rest of the community (where jobs would be growing fast) and reduce the available supply for animal products.

Where are you from, @NickNack?
brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:06 pm
thebestofenergy wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:54 amYou won't affect the amount of animal products by working at a place, I wouldn't worry.
Unless you do a very good job. There's something to be said for dragging your feet and doing the bare minimum not to get fired at these places, because you *really* want to benefit them. You want to be the worst possible employee they'll tolerate.
Reminds me of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkHw9dcMfoI :lol:
For evil to prevail, good people must stand aside and do nothing.
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NickNack
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Re: Can vegans have non-vegan jobs?

Post by NickNack »

@thebestofenergy
I'm in Bel Air Maryland America.
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