What Happens When There are Job Conflicts With Values?

When a job conflicts with values, it can be a disaster for you personally. No role should require you to violate the personal ethics you hold and the laws of the land. From massively eroded job satisfaction to a drop in motivation, here are some ways it can affect you on an emotional level.

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Moral Distress and Discomfort
There are countless examples of scenarios where professionals are made to act against their personal morals and ethics. Finance, legal departments, and healthcare are among the worst offenders. If you are experiencing stress from working against the best interests of patients, there is whistleblower representation for healthcare fraud. An obligation to do something against your beliefs shouldn’t come at the risk of personal harm or harm to others.

Eroded Job Satisfaction
It can take a while to find a job you are satisfied with, but you will get there. Once you have found a role that uses your skills, challenges you, and rewards your loyalty, it can be one of the greatest feelings in life. It even improves mental health by balancing dopamine and serotonin. However, working against your personal values can diminish overall job satisfaction, leave you with a sense of aimlessness and even feel like you have a reduced sense of purpose in life.

Job Conflicts with Values Can Cause Burnout
There is a higher rate of burnout when personal values and job requirements are mismatched. Values-based burnout is a real thing and occurs in high-stress roles such as nursing, which has a staggering 91.1% burnout rate! Here are some ways to reduce work-related stress a little:

• Organize your time by prioritizing tasks, breaking down goals, and taking breaks.
• Address work-life balance with boundaries, taking time off, and doing hobbies.
• Practice stress management via relaxation, physical activity, and getting enough sleep.
  
  

Reduced Engagement and Motivation
The best careers are the ones that motivate you and keep you engaged. So what happens when ethics and morals come crashing down? Most people who have had their values challenged at work report the weight of decreased motivation. Usually, this stems from knowing they are doing more harm than good, and subconsciously, you won’t want to do your job. As a result, productivity will take a hit, and you can find it hard to get out of bed for work. 

Personal Well-Being Can be Harmed
Not knowing what to do or how your actions are going to affect others can be a massive burden on a person. Even the strongest people can become shadows of their former selves by hurting others unintentionally. The mental stress and anxiety of a job that conflicts with personal morals and ethics often leads to neglect of one’s self. You may find you stop eating well, don’t take care of your appearance, and don’t allow yourself to enjoy the things you love, such as family time.

Distress and discomfort are just two of the horrific results that can occur when your job conflicts with values you hold dear. This can also lead to burnout, which can come at the cost of family relationships and personal health, usually demonstrated by self-neglect and improper self-care.