Stuck In My Teeth: Mike Monteiro’s Post on Ethics in Your Work

Occasionally a blog post sticks with me for weeks after I’ve read it. Sometimes pleasurably, like caramel in your molars after chewing a candy. Sometimes less so, like a poppy seed caught between two teeth.

The most recent one to ‘get stuck’ was by designer Mike Monteiro entitled “Ethics Can’t Be a Side Hustle.” Mike’s central argument is that one MUST consider the ethical implications of the work you do and the values of the company you work at.

And you can’t say “well, I make crappy software that exploits bad habits but hey, I also do some volunteering to make up for it.”

Or Mike puts it, “You can’t buy Ethics Offsets for the terrible things you do at your day job.”

He continues,

“We can debate whether tech or design are neutral in nature for weeks. And it’s a conversation I look forward to. But whether they are or not, I know that people are not. You cannot afford to be neutral. Right now, more than ever you need to reach down deep into your core, find your ethical strength, and bring it to your day job with you every day.”

So caramel or poppy seed? Both on this one. I really do believe we vote with our dollars and our time. Everything else is just talk. At Homebrew we absolutely commit to investing only in…