Hey folks, I’m a freelance voice-over artist and QA reviewer working on training content, usually things like workplace harassment and diversity courses. Recently, I was asked to QA a course on workplace harassment—and noticed the client had removed all references to gender, replacing it with sex. Anywhere the word “gender” appeared, it was just… gone or replaced.
It seems like a subtle thing on the surface, but it’s not. It completely shifts the tone and scope of the training. It feels like a quiet rollback of DEI principles, and honestly, it made my stomach turn. The kicker? I need this job. Turning this down could burn a bridge I can’t afford to lose.
I have a good relationship with the lead on the project (who’s just relaying instructions—they don’t have control over the content decisions), and I want to say something. At the same time, I’m scared that even a polite pushback could cost me.
Has anyone else been in this kind of situation? How do you draw the line when your ethics and survival are at odds? Would really appreciate your thoughts.
The replies here are disappointing but not surprising. If you willfully cross your moral boundaries, those aren’t your moral boundaries.
It’s not fair you should have to make this choice and I don’t believe you deserve the negative consequences of standing by your morals in this situation, but reality doesn’t care about any of that. You still have to make the choice and you still have to deal with the outcome.
No way in hell would I break my own code of ethics for an employer. I’ve said no before and I will again. Sometimes that costs me financially. I feel for you.
I mean, whether or not OP does the job literally doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. They are easily replaceable, and will be replaced if they refuse the work or cause too much trouble. The project will continue as planned, with the smallest increase in cost allocated to finding OP’s replacement. The only difference in outcome is that OP doesn’t get paid and loses professional reputation which will make it harder to get jobs in the future.
Instead of martyring themselves for literally no benefit and just ending up poor and miserable, OP should focus on taking care of themselves and taking actions that can actually make a difference.