Does my job go against what vegetarians should do?

Question

I'm a vegetarian, but I work as a bagger at a grocery store and I often bag meat for people.

Answer 1

nah thats fine!

to give you my example, i work at kfc and i am vegetarian. if i didn't work there, someone else would. All i can do is not eat the food, but im not killing the animals by putting chicken in a box for someone.

so yup dont worry bout it :)

Answer 2

You want people to respect your choice to be a vegetarian, so I assume you respect people's right to choose to eat meat.  There's no difference between providing this service to people who eat meat and any other service.  It doesn't make you complicit in their choice.

Answer 3

That's a decision you have to make for yourself. There are no rules set in stone as to what vegetarians can and cannot do when it comes to things like this.

I am a strict vegetarian, and I have worked in a grocery store and now work in a restaurant... I occasionally handle meat and while I'm not entirely comfortable with it, I live in a small town and in my experience it is extremely difficult to find a job that doesn't involve handling animal products. I need to work so that I can feed myself and pay my rent, and I imagine you do too.

As far as I'm concerned it's not an issue.

Answer 4

You're fine.  Sure, some extremists will claim that somehow you're an animal killer or something equally as inane ... but, doesn't mean that you are.

It's a job.  That's all.

Answer 5

No it does not. The only thing a vegetarian should not do or more accurately, chooses not to do is eat meat.

Correct me if I am wrong but a vegetarian is just a description of someone who does not eat meat or slaughter by-products. It is not a code of ethics or a set of rules and regulations that punishes "members" who do not follow.

Answer 6

If you don't like it, find a job that will make you happy.

Answer 7

No it doesn't. Vegetarians, like anyone else, have to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs.

It's a very fortunate person who can pick and choose which job they take, and an extremely fortunate and rare person who works for an employer or company whose ethics completely coincide with their own.

Don't worry about it; veg*ns can't live in a bubble of veg*n perfection, they live in the real world, and in the real world you often have to take what work you can get.

Answer 8

As long as you stay away from the Butcher's table, you will be fine.  :)

Answer 9

No. What does your diet have to do with putting groceries in a bag? if you don't eat the meat, you are not compromised.

Answer 10

I wouldn't say so... with such a job, if you're not doing it, someone else will be. It's not like you're making your company exploit more animals by bagging shopping - you don't have any influence on their politics and management, really.

If you were a manager or an executive, that's when you'd be responsible for what the company are doing.

I know lots of vegetarians and vegans who have to work, and have to work with companies who exploit animals, but they work on tills, pour coffee etc. It's not like they have a position of power in the company, and someone else would fill their place if they weren't there.

I'd say the most important thing, in this case, is your own feelings about doing such a job. Are you comfortable doing it? Do you feel like a hypocrite? I don't think I could bring myself to do it, so perhaps you could start looking for another job?

But I wouldn't go jobless. Think about it, if a meat-eater takes your place, they'll be spending some of the salary on meat, right?!

I hope that helps!

Tim.

Answer 11

Serve them with care. It only a "transition" period. "Law of Nature" will eventually find a appropriate place for you!

Answer 12

So what?

If you weren't doing that job, would people eat less meat?

No.

Would you rather have no job and someone else take your place?

Answer 13

Nah, I wouldn't worry about this too much. I mean, you're bagging their groceries, not slaughtering their bacon! And, unfortunately, this would happen even at health foods stores since so many of them sell (organic or free-range) meat. It's really hard to completely avoid the sight or smell of meat in our society.

Answer 14

You have bills to pay, and you applied for a job at the grocery store knowing part of the job description is bagging the food the customers buy.  You are not responsible for what they buy or eat; all you do is put it in the bag for them once they have bought it.  Whether it's you or someone else doing it, they're going to buy the stuff (unfortunately).  Don't worry about it.

Answer 15

Your fine. A job is a job. As long as your not an animal killer working in a slaughter house or anything like that your good. Just dont show your emotions at work though, you dont want to get fired.