Working a sinful job

[SensusFidelium]

So I need some advice.

I work in part with a public workers union in the municipal government. It gives me steady hours, and good pay, and it isnt difficult to raise a family here. The town I live in (the one I also grew up in), is very scarce on jobs. There simply isnt a lot of work here, and especially none Im qualified for.

However since Ive grown in my faith, Ive come to realize that my paycheque (that comes from the nonvoluntary taxation of other hard workers), and the work we do doesnt even come close to being a fair earning. There are some days we’re told to do nothing by our bosses and we’re paid full hours. It feels like Im stealing from my neighbors.

Not only this, but my fellow coworkers laugh in the face of The Church. They blaspheme God, and brag about their heretical and hethenistic lifestyles. The vilest things are said about the saints, women, each other, and even their own wives and children. I would surely be ostracized were I to stand up to the injustices. Labeled “hard to work with”.

I feel as though Im doing my soul no favours by working here. The enviroment only seperates one from God. But if I leave, I dont know how Ill support my family. I dont know what to do.

 

[Joe_5859]

I would set up an appointment to talk to your priest about this.

It doesn’t sound like your job itself is sinful, just that your work environment isn’t conducive to your spiritual health or mental well-being. It would be easy for posters to come along and tell you, “Yes, quit your job,” but you have to live with the very real consequences of that.

Far better to seek advice from a priest in real life.

Also, you need to make sure you are talking to your wife about this as well! I’m sure you are, but I just want to say it anyway.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

There are some days we’re told to do nothing by our bosses and we’re paid full hours. It feels like Im stealing from my neighbors.

Could you give more to reputable charities?

 

[ZMystiCat]

There are some days we’re told to do nothing by our bosses and we’re paid full hours. It feels like Im stealing from my neighbors.

Are you a salaried or hourly employee? I could maybe see this as a problem with hourly work, since there’s a bit of dishonesty of claiming pay for hours you didn’t work, but salaried work really just needs to get done. This can mean getting full pay for work weeks that don’t necessarily conform to the standard 40 - 45 hour week, both in fewer hours and more hours.

Even then, hourly work sometimes means you’re on the clock with nothing to do. That happened to me when I worked at Walmart a few times.

Not only this, but my fellow coworkers laugh in the face of The Church.

This is really an HR problem. While discussing the fact that they commit sin isn’t really taboo for the workplace, at least depending on what it is that they say, demeaning religion is something that isn’t acceptable and something that HR is supposed to deal with. Sure, you can discuss religion at work,* but it should be on mutually agreed and respectable terms.

In the end, it is hardly sinful to stick around in such a work environment. Maybe you can even be a good witness. However, it can certainly make work feel like a hostile environment, which is exactly the type of situations HR is meant to address.

* And yes, I know the general rule of not discussing religion or politics at work. However, as someone who has worked in rather casual work environments, I wouldn’t say it is entirely off-limits. Just know your coworkers and environment.

 

[ohce]

I know you say you are told to do nothing. However, is there busy work that you can do?

 

[Cruciferi]

I work in part with a public workers union in the municipal government. It gives me steady hours, and good pay, and it isnt difficult to raise a family here. The town I live in (the one I also grew up in), is very scarce on jobs. There simply isnt a lot of work here, and especially none Im qualified for.

Wonderful isn’t it

There are some days we’re told to do nothing by our bosses and we’re paid full hours.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that you can find something to do. Make up a project, clean, or take on more responsibilities.

Not only this, but my fellow coworkers laugh in the face of The Church. They blaspheme God, and brag about their heretical and hethenistic lifestyles. The vilest things are said about the saints, women, each other, and even their own wives and children. I would surely be ostracized were I to stand up to the injustices. Labeled “hard to work with”.

Ah, the joys of working with cantankerous men. They’re not necessarily bad people just misguided.

I feel as though Im doing my soul no favours by working here. The enviroment only seperates one from God. But if I leave, I dont know how Ill support my family. I dont know what to do.

Yeah, well, no job is perfect. You have responsibilities and until you find an equal or better opportunity, you’ll have to manage as best as you can.

 

[ZMystiCat]

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that you can find something to do. Make up a project, clean, or take on more responsibilities.

Learn Python and start automating stuff! Sure, there is the slight risk of completely destroying everything and bringing the government to its knees, but such an outcome isn’t completely awful. This guy will at least be happy:

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

There are some days we’re told to do nothing by our bosses and we’re paid full hours.

You’re hired to show up and be available for whatever work comes down the pipeline.
Which you did.
Some jobs have downtime and there’s nothing sinful about it.
This is not anything you have to worry about from an ethical or moral standpoint.