I'm a fitness instructor, so my teaching a class helps keep people healthy. I really encourage everyone to come back when I have new people and encourage them to keep moving and offer modifications if needed. I love it so much more than my last job in finance.
I help big, hated companies fight other big, hated companies.
On the plus side, I find it fairly morally neutral and I guess in some cases it helps my clients' shareholders (at the expense of other companies' shareholders)? (But hey -- some of you are shareholders of my biggest client. I've helped defend billions of their dollars!)
Absolutely. I am in a particular area of HR where I make the lives of our employees better. I've had employees cry to me on the phone that I've been the only person to help them with their situation.
Even when I can't get them the result they want, I am still thanked for my efforts. I even had the union reps thank me and they haaaaaaate the company.
Granted, my role is to protect the company, but doing what I do protects the company from legitimate lawsuits. I think I'm fair in the balance of employee vs. employer interest.
Also I'd argue my company itself does great things for society. There is controversy, of course, but it's no Monsanto. And in addition to our products, the company has 100% on the HRC scale for GLBT rights, On working mother's list of best places to work, and our compensation and benefits are above market, especially for our working class employees. A person with only a HS diploma can get a $30,000 job with full health coverage, paid sick leave benefits, 401k match.
Kind of - I work for a utility and many people would think that I'm ruining their lives, but the work that I specifically do does help the environment in a small way.
Lol, not even a little. I mean, we're kinda sorta developing less toxic consumer materials, but that's only because the current trend is towards less toxic, so that's where the money is.
Some of my cases, it's obvious why they matter. In others, the facts and obvious benefit to society is not apparent, seems petty, and in some cases, are criticized as stupid. But even in those cases, I frequently make legal arguments that advance issues relating to access to justice, due process, and corporate accountability that I happen to think are among some of the most important issues out there.
Post by twodogsandababy on Jul 11, 2014 10:14:15 GMT -5
I work for the DMV, so it is necessary, but I don't feel like it really helps society. I try to make it as frustration free as possible. I volunteer so that I can fulfil my need to feel like I am making a difference and helping people. I wish I had gotten into a more social services type of work.
Everybody poops. I now design sewer and water systems for new neighbourhoods. So while I am enabling urban sprawl, I am providing basic services that people most definitely use every day.
Yes. I feel like my work is important to help protect the integrity of the govt program (to make sure people who deserve benefits get benefits and that people who don't, don't) and also important to help society. I know SS disability gets a lot of criticism but I think it's an important program that helps a lot of people who need it and I like being a part of that.
My job targets a very privileged, educated sector of society. But, I feel like I use my job skills in other, more community-focused ways as a volunteer, so I hope this all balances out.
Hahahahahaha no. I work in a highly villified industry. While we aren't evil like we're made out to seem, I'm certainly not adding to the goodness in the world.
Post by spunkarella on Jul 11, 2014 12:12:39 GMT -5
Yes, it's one of the things I like most about working here.
My specific job is an administrative role, but my company does really good work. I love when I have a chance to work more directly with our population.
Post by delawarejen on Jul 11, 2014 12:54:46 GMT -5
Hell no. I'm an accountant. Nothing I do is all that important, interesting, or useful from a life perspective, aside from keeping the IRS happy. However, I do work for a hospital so my company does very useful things - I'm just a worker bee and I could do what I do anywhere.