Thursday, May 21, 2009

Organized Religion in the Workplace

My boyfriend recently accepted a job where in the initial interview (which went exceptionally well and managed to take him several hours to connect with his new coworkers and employer), they stated they participate in bible study. My friend and I have been talking about this a bit and we're curious about other peoples' views on the subject. It hasn't been confirmed that it's mandatory in order for him to keep his job. I know he's really excited about the opportunity (to do what he actually wants to for work), I'm just really concerned he's going to be uncomfortable. It's likely I'm overreacting, based on my own personal opinions, but I have yet to be presented with the chance to really delve into the conversation with him. I've so many questions because I'd really like to see nothing but good things for him, but in my eyes, should it turn out to be a mandatory thing, I'm questioning the legality of it all. I respect that it's a privately owned company and after listening to the owner speak, I have the utmost respect for his values and desires for verbal communication in the work place. But I don't want my hunny to feel awkward in a place he's making a living because his ideas may conflict with everyone else's. What does everyone think?

2 comments:

  1. Well, first of all... it would definitely be illegal. When you are hired by someone, they cannot legally discrimate against race, religion, marital status, all that crapola. He is definitely covered in that aspect. I just sort of went through a somewhat similiar scenario (kind of). I got fired because of the whole paranormal thing, even though I was told it never interfered with my job. So I was told by a bunch of people that I could take them to court because it's discriminating against an "outside of work" hobby. But technically, in NH, you can fire anyone without cause or reason, so actually, there's absolutely nothing I can do, even though it's not really legal. If I were you, I would definitely look up what the legalites of your state are, just to know your rights. Obvsiously, it's a weird situation because if he were to confront the issue, or in an extreme case- fight it, it's going to make a very awkward, hostile, work environment anyway, and no one wants that. But at the same time, he shouldn't have to be put in the situation of having to sit through a religious thing that he's not into.

    Off the record... that's fucked up man. I respect anyone that has faith in anything, but to pressure other people into it is wrong, mandatory or not.

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  2. I'm a little drunk in writing this, so I just reread it and some of the beginning is a little contradictory, but I think you know where I was going with it hahaha

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