You’re at your desk, staring at your computer, minding your own business. The clock ticks away. You’re answering emails, clicking buttons, maybe filling out some soul-sucking spreadsheet that will eventually be reviewed by someone who probably cares about it all just as little as you do. And what are you thinking? Probably the same thing that an invading army’s soldier or a corrupt, bully cop does: I’m just doing my job.
Ah, the beauty of that phrase. It's the universal escape hatch. It’s a moral get-out-of-jail-free card, isn’t it? Just slap it on any action, no matter how questionable, and suddenly you’re absolved of all guilt, responsibility, or need for critical thought. Because hey, you're just doing your job, right?
The Modern Hero: The One Who Just Does Their Job
You see, in the modern world, we’ve redefined what it means to be a hero. We’ve forgotten the outdated ideas of courage, integrity, or making the world a better place. Our heroes are the one who know how to toe the company line without asking too many questions. Our heroes do what they're told, they follow protocol, and most importantly, they do their job. That's the real moral compass of the 21st century.
Sure, we love watching movies that show otherwise, but we won’t stand for that kind of insolence in real life! How dare one question the norm?!
You know Janet from accounting? Her job is to ensure that the company squeezes every last penny out of its customers through confusing fee structures and hidden charges. Does Janet raise any ethical concerns about this? Of course not! Why should she? She is just doing her job, and her job involves making sure that your cable bill looks like a Sudoku puzzle without the fun.
Or think about Greg, the social media manager for a mega-corporation that sells questionable products. Greg spends his days drafting tweets and Instagram posts about how his company's product will "revolutionize" your life (spoiler alert: it won't). Does Greg sleep soundly at night, knowing he's pushing overpriced nonsense onto the masses? You bet he does! Because Greg is just doing his job, and that’s what matters.
The Ethics of Following Orders
Now, let’s get serious for a moment. We’ve been here before, haven’t we? Historically, some of the worst actions in human history have been excused with the phrase, “I’m just doing my job.” From corporate greed to government-sanctioned atrocities, the rallying cry of moral indifference has always been the same:
It’s not personal; it’s just business.
But let’s not get too bogged down by that pesky thing called history. After all, if we started worrying about why we do things, we'd have to start thinking about what we do, and who’s got time for that when there are deadlines to meet?
Let’s say you work in a job where you know deep down that what you’re doing might not exactly be on the up-and-up. Perhaps you’re an ad exec pushing cigarettes on teenagers with flashy campaigns. Or maybe you're a customer service rep at a company whose primary goal is to avoid giving customers any actual service. What do you do in these situations?
Well, you could speak up. You could be that one person who asks, “Hey, is this right? Are we doing the right thing here?” But then, my friend, you’d be the office buzzkill. You’d be the one with the conscience, the one who thinks they can “change the system from within.” And let me tell you, no one likes that person. They're a walking HR meeting waiting to happen.
Instead, let’s just take the path of least resistance: just do your job. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that the world does NOT need another hero. It needs more people who just keep their heads down and get the task done, no matter how questionable that task might be. Leave the hard moral questions to philosophers, and stick to what you’re good at: mindlessly following orders. Who’s got the time to think when you have to bills to pay, am I right?!
Picking and Choosing Your Morality
Of course, just because you're "just doing your job" doesn’t mean you’re entirely morally bankrupt. Think of your ethics as a buffet; pick what works for you, leave the rest. You can hold a firm stance on some things (like recycling or using cruelty-free products), while conveniently turning a blind eye to whatever dodgy practices your company engages in. It’s all about balance.
So, sure, maybe you work for a company that contributes to the destruction of the environment. But do you drive a hybrid? Do you use paper straws? There you go! Problem solved. You can offset any personal moral qualms with a little selective outrage. Feel free to march for climate change on the weekend, and then head back to the office on Monday to do your part in making sure the Earth continues its slow descent into climate catastrophe. It’s the modern way! We don’t have a choice! We never have a choice!
It’s All Subjective Anyway, Right?
Here’s the best part about modern morality: it’s flexible! No one really knows what’s right or wrong anymore because everything is subjective. It’s all about how you frame it. If you can justify your actions in your own head (and maybe to a few close friends), you’re golden. It’s not that you’re a cog in a giant, soul-crushing machine of corporate malfeasance; you’re a hardworking individual who’s doing what needs to be done. I mean, if you didn’t do it, they’d probably just get someone else to do it anyways, right!?
You’re not contributing to the problem, you’re part of the solution; by doing nothing that rocks the boat! Just think about it, what’s more valuable in today’s world than someone who just keeps things moving smoothly, without questioning the direction? You’re the oil that keeps the gears of society turning. And really, that’s just good enough.
Stop Overthinking, Start Working
The next time someone questions your actions, your company, or even your industry, just remember: you’re just doing your job. It’s the perfect answer to any moral dilemma. Why make life complicated with ethical concerns when you can just simplify everything down to a single, elegant excuse?
So go ahead, keep at it! File those misleading reports, draft those deceptive emails, and approve those questionable business decisions. After all, you’re not responsible for the larger system. You’re just a humble worker, doing what you were hired to do. No more, no less.
The world needs people like us; those who can look at any situation, no matter how morally dubious, and say with confidence,
“Hey, don’t look at me. I’m just doing my job.”