Is it ethical for lottery winners to keep their jobs?

[Icewynd]

http://money.uk.msn.com/features/£8m-lottery-winner-to-keep-working

A care worker has vowed to continue in his £15,000-a-year job despite winning almost £8 million on the lottery. While that would have been the cue for most of us to pack our job in, the 67-year-old from Sutton, south London, duly turned up for work on Sunday morning at the care home where he looks after vulnerable elderly residents.

“I shall not be retiring any time soon – the old folks need me,” he told the Daily Mirror.

My question is: Is it ethical, in these times of high unemployment, for lottery winners to keep a job that could go to someone who needs it?

The elderly need someone to care for them, but it doesn't have to be this guy. And, I'm sure the care home would be happy to welcome him as a volunteer.

What do you think?

 

[Teufellj]

Why not, Icewynd?

Times are bad and not likely to get well soon! The go-getters won't sit on their laurels, flip over and quit living as others have done. Folks born into poverty don't have to stay that way. Yes, in most cases, it's very hard to rise above their situations and must make many hard and sad decisions.
Ethics, morals and the like Do Not come into play when...you are losing your possessions; are starving; see friends and neighbors downsizing or moving if they are able; or outright passing on from this life.
My feelings are straight to the heart...you do what you feel you have to or want to. If you have a job...Keep It...I assure you that things can get worse!

Teufellj...

 

[Icewynd]

Thanks for your comments, Teuf.

I must admit that I posted this mainly to attempt to be controversial and maybe stimulate some discussion on the board.

However, after I had posted, I thought that maybe I had been too hard on the guy. He said he loved his job and maybe that is all he has in his life that he loves, so I shouldn't be too judgmental.

Good luck!

 

[Teufellj]

Hi there, Icewynd,
I don't feel that you were being hard on that person. What you have asked is a good notion both in thought and reality. My personal belief is that the financial institutions of the world...the big boys and girls...ought to have a heart and not be a total money hog, that is, not be forced to pay back all of their investment financing but help resolve the world crisis that they/we are in. Major mistakes were made but not in total by the banking institutions as others were just as criminal or gullible in accepting. So....what's amoral or selfish...Have a job, keeping the job and winning a big chunk of change that maybe he will never see again or feeling lowbrow about the poverty that abounds around him but still keeps both the job and the winnings?
See ya bud,

Teufellj...

 

[corneydeb]

I don't believe it is a a case of ethics.The chap clearly loves his job,bearing in mind ,some of the people will be only slightly older than himself.In my humble opinion I believe he trying to stay ''grounded",and not give to his ego ,and buy a mansion ,big car etc

 

[Icewynd]

Hi Deb,

That's a good point, and something that we all need to keep in mind in our quest for millions of dollars.

So many winners lose touch with who they are and burn through all the money trying to live someone else's life.

Good luck!

 

[15tons]

To be or not to be $ ...

Intriguing dilemma,and one I hope many of us here have the opportunity and good fortune to meet up with. A first baseline criterion decision factor would be
1) How intrinsically interwoven is the job/vocation in and to that lucky ducky's world . 2) Sometimes at the lottery press gala's one says they 'won't change anything' ; whereas the emotion behind the words might be 'jeez i hope i don't let this money get me all into a pickle or screw things up'.

Hopefully his wishes and vision do play out,and in positive environment for him. Or,possibly he may morph his energies and 'influence' into a more comprehensive endeavor connected with elder hospice care ,which still allows him the 'caring /guiding hands experience'.

We're all familiar with the 'Lotto Windfalls gone Bad' stories. So,for the vast majority of big prize winners ,their biggest hurdle is " ok this is fantastic!..now how do I get my life back to normal??"

 

[Icewynd]

A thoughtful post, 15Tons. Thanks for your insights.

Good luck!

 

[15tons]

Thanks Icewynd, I think I've had like 3 or so years to contemplate this same question.
I was walking a long the street with a friend of mine,and we were kinda talking about lotteries or money,can't remember. But out of the blue she emphatically stated that "anyone who wins the lottery should step aside, and make way for someone who really needs that/a job" .

I think I muttered some sort of agreement with her adamant position. So was grateful to revisit the question again here. There are 14 or 28 million unique combos to landing the Big Prize. And hopefully if the time ever comes, I could figure out 6 or 7 good options/paths to take.