Vegetarian serving meat at restaurant?

Question

I am a vegetarian and hope to get a job soon but I'm wondering if I work in a resaurant is that being a hypocrite? I am a big supporter of PETA and a hard core vegetarian so this is a big issue for me. Please no negative comments towards vegetarians, thank you.

Answer 1

This boils down to chosing your battles. If you do not chose your battles well then you are not directing your energy into something that will make, in your perception, a positive change.

Sometimes small triumphs add up to something great. And other times you have to accept half payment and compromise -- "A little bit of something is better than a whole lotta nothing!"

In your case you are doing your part by chosing to not eat meat, as other vegetarians do. And you can raise awareness of your cause within the right forums. You are never going to take down the meat industry.

MADD is never going to take down the liquor industry. That is not their goal. Their goal is to keep people from drinking and driving and raise awareness. With that logic in mind, you cannot blame a bartender for alcoholism!

So remember that this is just your job. No matter what job you work at, you're not going to agree with every aspect of how the businesses or the people that you work for/with conduct themselves. That's part of life.

Let's say that you don't drink or smoke. If someone offers it to you, you don't have to make an issue of it. You simply say, "I don't drink," or "I'm a non-smoker." People will get it. So you can take the same approach at your restaurant. When someone asks you to taste something, you say, "No thanks. I don't eat meat." You've made your point and little bit of headway without putting energy into something that you cannot change by yourself. And maybe one of your collegues might actually ask you about vegetarianism one day, out of curiosity. Then that opens up the door for polite discussion of your cause.

I am assuming that you are not planning to work at a steakhouse or a place that is renown for their Golden Cheeked Warbler Tacos . So you can work at that restaurant, make a livelihood for yourself, and champion your ideas someplace other than work.

Your not a crack dealer or a supermodel draped in a chinchilla fur. You're just a waitress serving other people's meals. Go for it. =)

Answer 2

I guess it depends on your reasons for being a vegetarian, and your particular leanings.

I am a solid vegetarian as well, and have been for many years, two of which I had no problem serving meat in the restaurant I worked in. I don't consider myself a hypocrit in the slightest, because I see vegetarianism as a very personal choice. I have no right to try to force others to do what is right for me, and I don't have a moral objection to eating meat in general, just certain inately cruel types.

By the way, you should do a little research into PETA. It's not exactly a good thing in the eyes of many to call yourself a big supporter of theirs. They use such extremist and offensive tactics that they actually alienate many who'd be potential converts, or at least supporters. They're also EXTREMELY hypocritical, "euthanizing" thousands of animals every year that they've supposedly rescued from labs, slaughterhouses, and kill shelters.

Answer 3

It's a fortunate person who can pick and choose where they work. Veg*ns have to pay the rent and put food on the table for their families like everybody else.

'Get a job in a vegetarian restaurant' is no answer; there would have to be one in the area to start with, they would have to have a vacancy and finally they would have to select you out of all applicants.

No you would not be a hypocrite if you took a job in a restaurant that served meat. You would be a realist who presumably like most of us can't afford a period of unemployment.

Once in a job, you can continue to look round for one that suits you better

Answer 4

When I was newly vegetarian, I worked at a deli where meat was served. It didn't bother me then, but I wouldn't work in food service again unless it was in a vegetarian establishment. That's just a personal preference, though. I don't think that you're compromising your principles by carrying people's food from the kitchen to their table. The people ordering meat are making their own choices for themselves. If it doesn't gross you out, go for it.

Answer 5

As long as you don't eat any animals or help increase the consumption of animals, you are just doing your job.

A vegan person could work as a butcher in a grocery chain as long as they don't take any meat home or help promote the product.

They could even work at a slaughter house but they would get fired for trying their best to give the animals a painless death That would take too long and slow "production". Killing the animals that are used to make food in homes and restaurants is the only job that a veg person would fail at because they would be too considerate of the animals and end up terminated.

If you don't do the job, somone else will take your place after you're fired, so you can just have a personal life and beliefs outside of what you do for a living, just like everyone else.

Answer 6

I worked in a restaurant when I was a vegetarian and even thought the smell and sight of meat was nasty, I made great money and really liked the people I worked with. It wasn't that bad- just make sure you're making decent money to make it worth your while.

Answer 7

Yes my friends Family owns a resteraunt and they are vegetarian and they serve meat thats not hypocritical, i mean how else are you going to make a living!?! Dont worry People have nothing on YOu!!

Answer 8

Get a job at a vegetarian resturant.

Answer 9

Sorry but I disagree with the others... no amount of money would convince me to serve meat. The whole point I gave up meat was so I didn't benefit from something else's pain so whether it's my tastebuds or my finances that are benefitting it's the same thing. That's just me though, if you personally feel it's ok then go for it. Everyone's a hypocrite in some way so as long as your conscience can live with it then do what you feel is best.

Answer 10

Solve the problem by workng in a vegetarian cafe.