People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a prominent name in animal rights advocacy within the United States. For many, the organization’s image is intertwined with impactful, sometimes provocative campaigns aimed at raising awareness about animal welfare. From protesting animal testing in cosmetics with stark imagery to challenging fashion choices involving fur, PETA has consistently sought to push animal rights into public discourse.
Navigating the streets of Washington, D.C., PETA’s headquarters stands out, a vibrant exception to the city’s often understated architecture. A multicolored elephant statue and bold slogans adorning the fence immediately capture attention. This striking visual presence, combined with the growing emphasis on workplace values, prompts a question: Is there an expectation of veganism for those employed by PETA? In an era where employees increasingly seek alignment between their personal values and their workplace, understanding PETA’s stance on veganism becomes particularly relevant.
The question of whether veganism is a prerequisite for employment at PETA yields a nuanced answer. It’s not a simple yes or no.
PETA’s Official Stance on Veganism for Employees
According to a PETA spokesperson, the requirement for employees to be vegan is role-dependent. “PETA requires employees to be vegan only if they are in roles advocating vegan food choices, such as our ‘Lettuce Ladies,’ while applicants for certain other positions, like those in IT, are not required to be vegan,” the spokesperson clarified via email.
This indicates that for positions directly involved in promoting veganism, such as the “Lettuce Ladies” who often engage in public outreach and vegan advocacy, adhering to a vegan lifestyle is a condition of employment. However, for roles less directly related to vegan advocacy, such as those in information technology or administrative support, veganism is not a mandatory prerequisite.
Despite this nuanced policy, the spokesperson emphasized the pervasive influence of PETA’s mission on its employees. They stated, “However, in our experience, seeing our video footage and learning about how animals suffer in laboratories and for food, clothing, and entertainment invariably inspires everyone to go vegan.” This suggests that while not universally mandated, veganism is deeply ingrained in PETA’s organizational culture.
Veganism and PETA’s Workplace Culture
This ethos of veganism extends beyond formal job requirements, permeating the daily operations and environment at PETA. The spokesperson highlighted that “nothing taken from an animal, whether shoe leather or cheese crackers, is allowed in our offices or at our events.” This strict policy underscores the organization’s commitment to animal rights and vegan principles in all aspects of its work.
Even for volunteer roles, while veganism isn’t a strict requirement to join PETA’s action team, it is strongly encouraged. PETA’s action team FAQ states that individuals “don’t have to be vegan, but since the best thing anyone can do to help animals is not to eat them, we encourage everyone to go vegan.” This consistent messaging reinforces the centrality of veganism to PETA’s mission and the expectation that individuals involved with the organization, whether as employees or volunteers, will align with its core values.
Values Alignment in the Modern Workplace
The emphasis on values alignment at PETA mirrors a broader trend in the contemporary workplace. Increasingly, employees are seeking employers whose values resonate with their own personal beliefs. This trend has been highlighted by various instances of values-driven actions within companies.
For example, the dismissal of former Paramount TV President Amy Powell in 2018 following racially insensitive remarks demonstrated an employer taking a firm stance on company values. Similarly, employee activism at companies like Activision Blizzard and Netflix, protesting workplace culture issues and content decisions, respectively, illustrates the growing importance of values alignment for employees. These instances, alongside research indicating that employees, particularly Gen Z, prioritize working for companies that share their social values, underscore a significant shift in workplace dynamics.
In conclusion, while veganism is not a universal employment requirement at PETA, it is deeply embedded within the organization’s culture and mission. For roles directly advocating veganism, it is a necessary condition. More broadly, PETA seeks employees who, at a minimum, are “kind and open-minded” towards veganism and animal rights. As the spokesperson stated, “We would not hire a sports hunter or someone who held another anti-animal position contrary to our animal protection mission.” Ultimately, working at PETA implies a fundamental alignment with its animal protection ethos, making veganism a highly encouraged, if not always mandated, aspect of employment.
