Turned down a job because of my belief.....

If I have strong beliefs in an area and the job contravenes my beliefs then I would look for something compatible with my beliefs and it would be the right choice. A clear conscience is very important to me. I have no doubt that God would help me find suitable employment.

I wish you success!

This is an ethical issue and a personal issue, and if you felt that taking a flu shot for a job was violating your civil rights, you were right not to take the job. It may hurt financially, but if you've lived your life a certain way, as you've explained, then the nursing home is violating your civil liberties by asking you to take a flu shot for a job. Some people would ridicule you for being stubborn and not taking the shot and then taking the job, but I am not one of those people. I think it is wrong for the government to force the issue of taking flu shots or getting vaccinated against certain diseases that have been eradicated or nearly eradicated just for a pay check. Good for you!

You made the correct choice. The body is supposed to be the temple for the soul and if you feel that vaccination is just another way of poisoning your body, then you don’t go for it, no matter what.
Personally, I too am against vaccines as I think they destroy the natural immunity of the body and are just a state sponsored gimmick to help multinational pharmaceutical companies rake in the moolah. However, polio vaccination is quite a rage and success here in India and I believe smallpox has been eradicated the world over with sustained vaccination campaigns. So I guess there some merit in it after all, though I am not a great believer in it.

Hi there horns,

I have never been in such a spot where I've had to make that kind of decision. If I were then I would do as you did and turn it down. You have to stand by your convictions. I think it is horrible that they are forcing people to take something that many people are not comfortable taking. When it comes to something like that then it should be a matter of personal choice. They claim these flu shots are harmless but then again they say that about all these new things until they find out later on that they were wrong. Just look at the side effects from that vaccine that is supposed to prevent cervical cancer. You made the right choice. I am sure there is a place where you can exercise your cooking talents that won't expect you to do something that goes against your beliefs.

hi hornswaggled No I cannot remember ever turning a job down
for health or ethical reasons. I respect your decisions regarding
medications but as I am an ex medical worker I have some very opposite views. I will get a flu shot as I have a messed up immune system due to having diabetes, and I have no fear of vacines or vaccinations whatever. I have diabetes and high blood
pressure and arthritis so take the medications my doctor wants me to take and I don't fear any of them, but I know you will respect my differences of opinion too. But I do know that a lot of herbs do wonders for us, but knowing how much and what to take are hard to find out.

I too refuse to take the flu shot and dont allow my children to be given on either just because theres dangers with it. I know theres dangeres with getting the flu as well, because i have it right now. But on a moral issue i think you would have had the choice to refuse the nursing home from making you take it to keep your job if you was working there. The use of chemicals in the facility would have been a whole nother issue so i think you made the right choice. Its no fun to work in a place that you have to feel so uncomfortable about your surroundings. I hope for a better job offer to come you way.

If you feel that you have looked at all factors of this job in relation to other factors in your life such as family, finances, personal values, and all the things that make up your decision making factors, and still come down to thinking that turning the job down will make you feel less guilty about turning your back on your beliefs, then you made the right decision.

I personally believe that people are given the freedom to decide on how they want to improve and protect themselves for as long as they are not violating the freedom and rights of others.

There are many jobs that will agree with your personal values. Hope you find a good one:)

Well I turned down a webcam job, I had a friend who was a cam girl, an she was saying can make more money if I went on cam with her, an I was like no I can not do that on cam...lol

Back then I had a good paying job, now I dunno I might do it if asked again, well what I said is more about moral or ethical values.

What you are talking about is more of your own actual lifestyle than just religious beliefs.

Thats like asking a vegetarian to work as a meat cutter...lol

Hi hornswaggled,

I, too, am a naturalist and do not believe in contaminating my body with things such as flu shots. I totally understand where you are coming from. However, in this case, it is even more than just a medical or health issue. This is an issue of integrity, integrity to yourself and who you are. My father once told me, never betray your own principles.

While we may alter our beliefs a mite as we mature, experience and gain a fuller understanding of life, we would never want to sell short the principles which made up our foundation. No amount of financial gain could compensate for the loss of self-respect we would lose. Losing self-respect then leaves us no good for anyone. Our character and how we view that character is just as, if not more, essential to to our mental and physical well-being as is food and water.

I applaud you for having the courage to stand for what you believe even in these difficult economic times.

hi hornswaggled, thats really a tough one, you sure would have been happy at that job as you like cooking so much. And in these times of economic stress I think maybe it would have been better to accept that vaccination coming with the job.
But I understand your reasons not to.
Guess what I am going to do, I will go and light a virtual candle for you hope you find suitable work soon.

hugs to you. You are really brave rather saying no to a job instead of doing something you wont want to.