Coffee

excon · Jun 15, 2006, 05:31 AM

Hello:

I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

excon

valinors_sorrow · Jun 16, 2006, 03:56 PM

I believe the decision about where to work before you accept the job is where the "social action" conscience should take place much like it should before you spend the money buying a product or before you decide to be involved with something. After the fact hits me as self-centered and prompts me to hand out dog-earred copies of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. LOL

Jonegy · Jun 16, 2006, 05:03 PM

I don't know how it would work over there but over here (UK) a military type (can't remeber which dept.

) refused to do a 3rd tour in Iraq as it was against his morals. The Court Martial did not agree

shunned · Jun 17, 2006, 06:13 AM

Good point, but grounds for dismissal.

Is this a good example of winning the fight but losing the war?

If anyone wants to make a statement of their moral beliefs and values, they might not want to use their jobs as a vehicle to this end. It may be financially implausable.
Don't we all get paid to do things we'd rather NOT do? is this a major stressor?

valinors_sorrow · Jun 17, 2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunned

grounds for dismissal.

LOL Were those decaf or regular grounds??

If that wasn't intended, it's even funnier!

(sorry, I tried to comment on your post but I am fresh out of rep power)

phillysteakandcheese · Jun 17, 2006, 06:06 PM

Coffee is not a state-regulated substance, so while your individual action of refusing to serve coffee for the reasons cited would be legal, the coffee shop of course could choose to dismiss you since you are unable to perform the basic function of the job.

An EMT - like Stormy - is licensed by the state and legally bound to do their job competently. Refusing to do so would be illegal, and could lead to legal actions against the individual, the ambulance company, and perhaps the state.

The seperation comes by the legal responibilities of the job...
In one case, you get fired.

In the other case, you go to jail.

shunned · Jun 17, 2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valinors_sorrow

I believe the decision about where to work before you accept the job is where the "social action" conscience should take place much like it should before you spend the money buying a product or before you decide to be involved with something. After the fact hits me as self-centered and prompts me to hand out dog-earred copies of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. LOL

So for Thoreau's Civil Disobedience your sending us to Bill Gates?

Grounds are decaf.

educatedhorse_2005 · Jun 18, 2006, 12:59 AM

That is not true in stormy's case.
She only has to take care of him on the job if he needs it not off the job.
The state of wyoming has the good samartian law.
So as an emt you are not required to stop and help if he is in trouble on the side of the road or his house.
You only have to take care of him while on the job.

talaniman · Jun 18, 2006, 04:00 AM

If you can't put your personal feelings aside and do your job then your fired plain and simple.

valinors_sorrow · Jun 18, 2006, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shunned

So for Thoreau's Civil Disobedience your sending us to Bill Gates?

Grounds are decaf.

Hmmmm I don't know what happened with that link

So sorry!

(.... shrugs)

Cassie · Jun 18, 2006, 05:47 AM

So you are saying if you owned your own pharmacy, should you be required to sell all medications. Such as birth control if you do not believe in it. Refusal to sell something because of your beliefs, (something legal of course)
in a business that sells those products is no different than a certain religion or government pushing their belief system on you. The big question is where is the line drawn between asserting our rights versus infringing on others rights.