THEJNSREPORT

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Food For Thought: Opportunity Costs

So the other day while in a discussion about business and opportunity costs, the topic of compromising one’s values or “selling out” came up.  This became a heated topic of discourse due to religion being brought into the equation.  From the outset we weren’t really opposed so much in our perspectives.

However, the more we discussed things at one point a nerve was struck.  It was explained to me that if for example one was working for a certain religious demographic doing free-lance work for say an event, that as a condition of being employed at the event, the contracted person would have to wear the garb or an adornment of the people holding the event even if the contracted person didn’t share the same faith, otherwise he/she couldn’t get the job.

In my opinion the skills of the contracted person are what count not the garments so long as the contracted person dressed professionally or in proper attire to do the work required.  I said to wear the garments of a faith that one doesn’t share to get paid to do a job would be tantamount to selling out or selling one’s soul.

I went on to say, personally I’d turn down the job if that was the price to be paid and the contractors would be better served hiring one of their own or better said someone who could do the work they needed done and who also shared the same faith to avoid a conflict of conscience and religious value.

The discussion continued and I was told that word of mouth spreads and that a decision like that would likely cost one future opportunities down the line.

What’s your take on this subject?  Would you compromise your religious beliefs to have a paid gig?