I’m Just Doing My Job: Part II

The Reckoning of a Satire

Alright, now that you’ve probably read the first part of this piece, probably with a smirk on your face, nodding along to the satire, maybe even recognizing yourself or your colleagues in the all-too-familiar chorus of “I’m just doing my job,” let’s have a little chat. Shall we?

It was fun, right? A little light-hearted poke at the absurdity of modern work life. But now, it’s time to put that smirk away because, my friend, we need to talk about the reckoning that follows when the excuses start to crumble.

You see, as amusing as it is to imagine yourself as some sort of anti-hero, just riding the wave of moral ambiguity, the reality of “just doing your job” has consequences. Real-world, tangible consequences that extend beyond the comfortable confines of your desk. So, let’s flip the script. Let’s take a good, hard look at what happens when the "job" you're "just doing" starts effecting the world around you.

When the Small Stuff Becomes the Big Stuff

Here’s the thing no one wants to admit: The small stuff? It’s never just small stuff. Every act, every decision, every little "harmless" task you carry out contributes to a much larger picture. You might think you’re just sending out a few misleading emails, or approving that extra charge to a customer’s bill, or quietly complying with a policy that you know, deep down, is unethical. But that’s how the bigger machine operates; on the seemingly insignificant actions of individuals who keep telling themselves that they’re not responsible for the outcome.

Take a look at history. The biggest atrocities weren’t committed overnight by a single villain twirling a mustache. They were made possible by thousands - no, millions - of people who thought, “Well, this is just my job. It’s not my place to question.” Whether it’s environmental degradation, income inequality, or the erosion of democratic principles, it’s the little, everyday acts of compliance that make these disasters possible.

And yes, I know it’s not pleasant to think about. I know. It’s much easier to close your eyes, file that report, and forget about it as soon as you walk out of the office. But let’s face it, those reports you’re filing, those contracts you’re writing, those meetings you’re sitting through? They’re shaping the world you live in. And not always for the better.

"Just Doing Your Job" Doesn’t Protect You

There’s a misconception that “just doing your job” somehow insulates you from the moral implications of your actions. That as long as you’re following orders, or meeting your quotas, or hitting your targets, you’re not personally responsible for whatever comes next.

But guess what? It doesn’t work like that.

Remember all those Wall Street executives during the 2008 financial crisis? They were just doing their jobs too; exploiting financial loopholes, approving risky loans, and manipulating markets. And when everything collapsed, when millions lost their homes, their savings, and their livelihoods, they couldn’t just shrug and say, “Hey, I was just doing my job.” The fallout hit everyone, including those who claimed they were simply following orders.

The same goes for you. Sure, it’s easy to dismiss your role in the grand scheme of things, but when the consequences of those “small” actions hit, you can’t escape them. They’ll come knocking, whether in the form of public backlash, legal consequences, or just the slow, creeping realization that you’ve been complicit in something far worse than you ever imagined.

The Moral Evasion

Here’s where the real gymnastics come in: the mental kind. You’ve probably convinced yourself that you’re a good person, and you might very well be. You donate to charity, you’re kind to your coworkers, you recycle, and maybe you even volunteer on weekends. Good job, I commend you! But the truth is, all the good deeds in the world don’t cancel out the morally questionable actions you perform under the guise of “just doing your job.”

It’s like trying to balance a scale that’s constantly tipping against you. You make one shady business decision, and you try to make up for it by being a good person in other areas of your life. But deep down, that balance never quite feels right, does it? You know the real weight of those decisions, and no amount of moral rationalization is going to make them disappear.

Eventually, you’ll hit a wall. You’ll stop being able to compartmentalize your actions so neatly. You’ll wake up one day, and it’ll hit you: You’re part of the problem. And that realization? It’s going to sting.

Breaking Free From the Script

Now, let’s say you’ve had enough of this mental tug-of-war. You’re tired of playing the game, of telling yourself that you’re just a cog in the machine, powerless to change anything. Good news! There’s another way out of this mess. You can break free from the script.

It starts with asking the hard questions, the ones you’ve been avoiding. Why am I doing this? What am I contributing to? Is this the kind of work that aligns with my values? You might not like the answers, but that’s the point. Confronting the uncomfortable truth is the first step toward reclaiming your agency.

It’s easy to feel small in the face of giant corporate structures, political systems, or societal norms. It’s easy to tell yourself that one person can’t make a difference. But guess what? Every act of integrity, no matter how small, chips away at the machine. Every time you refuse to compromise your morals for a paycheck, you’re pushing back against a system that thrives on moral indifference.

Redefining the Job Description

So, where do we go from here? How do we move beyond “just doing our jobs” and start doing the right thing?

It starts with redefining what your job really is. Sure, you’ve got your official job description, the tasks, the responsibilities, the metrics you’re supposed to meet. But what if you added a new line to that description:

Make decisions that align with my values and contribute positively to the world around me.

Imagine the impact that this could have on your work, your life, and the society you’re helping to shape.

It might mean speaking up when you see something wrong. It might mean pushing back against policies that you know are harmful. It might even mean walking away from a job that no longer aligns with who you are. Yes, it’s risky. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s also necessary.

When it really comes down to it, doing the right thing isn’t about gestures of grandeur or sweeping changes. It’s about the everyday decisions you make, the little acts of integrity that add up over time. It’s about recognizing that you’re not just a cog in the machine; you’re a human being with agency, with power, and with the ability to make a difference.

The Job Worth Doing

So, here’s the real challenge: stop hiding behind the excuse of “just doing your job.” Instead, take ownership of your role in the world. Start thinking critically about the impact of your work, and make choices that reflect the kind of world you want to live in.

Because, in the end, the job worth doing isn’t the one that just pays the bills. It’s the one that lets you sleep at night, knowing that you didn’t compromise your values, that you didn’t ignore the consequences of your actions, and that you contributed to something greater than yourself.

So, are you still just doing your job—or are you ready to start doing something that really matters?

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash