I'm not a big fan of chain stores; yes, I do patronize them sometimes (though I do try to limit it, money gets in the way), but I prefer to support local businesses. So working at a local business is pretty cool for me. It's a gourmet grocery store, and I think that it's a really great place to work, and I like my job a lot. I see firsthand how much the store helps the community with donations and events, and it's really cool to be able to directly communicate with the store's owners. It's very comforting to know that if a problem arises, management has your back. (and they have had my back on a few occasions.)
But I recently discovered that there was a lawsuit about racial discrimination against the store in the early 90s. It's not like that anymore, but it was really disheartening to know that the former owner (now retired) could be that way, because he was someone I looked up to. When I mentioned the lawsuit to a coworker, she brought up that the business IS a "good old boys" kind of place and that the female managers still make far less money than the male managers.
It broke my heart. I still think it's a good place to shop, and an even better place to work. But I can't look at the owners the same way anymore. I guess it's like shopping at American Apparel- no sweatshops, just sexual harassment.
So how do you choose what to take a stand on? I guess there aren't easy answers to anything.
