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Christians in the workplace.....tough call...help?

G

Gravity

Diamond Member
I'm over about 100 employees in Florida. We provide residential treatment for juveniles. Most of our employees are Christians and so are many of the kids. We hired a new director a few months ago and she claimed ot be a Christian but is not balking at the "Jesus-speak" that goes on. Now my pitbull bosses want a plan to eliminate/reduce the religious talk going on at the program.

I'm concerned that telling folks not to speak about religious matters will send a shockwave through the workplace, alienating some and dampening morale on many.

I've read the laws on religious speech in the workplace and it appears to be protected, even in government workplaces. FYI, we're a private, non-religious company contracting with the state.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom (and some expected drivel)

Gravity
 
As long as the people aren't radically saying to the "non-believers" that they're gonna go to hell and to keep it a work-friendly environment.
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
I'm over about 100 employees in Florida. We provide residential treatment for juveniles. Most of our employees are Christians and so are many of the kids. We hired a new director a few months ago and she claimed ot be a Christian but is not balking at the "Jesus-speak" that goes on. Now my pitbull bosses want a plan to eliminate/reduce the religious talk going on at the program.

I'm concerned that telling folks not to speak about religious matters will send a shockwave through the workplace, alienating some and dampening morale on many.

I've read the laws on religious speech in the workplace and it appears to be protected, even in government workplaces. FYI, we're a private, non-religious company contracting with the state.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom (and some expected drivel)

Gravity
Click to expand...


why does your boss want to reduce/eliminate the religious talk?
 
I don't see why anyone should be able to prohibit you from talking about god and stuff as it pertains to your normal conversations... as long as it isn't offensive (not just annoying)... That would be like telling yuor hindu employees they can not talk about vishnu, its ridiculous. If someone feels uncomfortable with the conversations they can leave... I don't like hearing the 30-year-old fat guy ramble on about who's got great titties and who he wants to bang, so I just walk away.
 
People misinterpret our Freedom of Religion. In the USA, you cannot force someone to believe a certain faith. However, I don't think our Constitution says that all religious subject matter is prohibited.
 
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Originally posted by: Gravity
I'm over about 100 employees in Florida. We provide residential treatment for juveniles. Most of our employees are Christians and so are many of the kids. We hired a new director a few months ago and she claimed ot be a Christian but is not balking at the "Jesus-speak" that goes on. Now my pitbull bosses want a plan to eliminate/reduce the religious talk going on at the program.

I'm concerned that telling folks not to speak about religious matters will send a shockwave through the workplace, alienating some and dampening morale on many.

I've read the laws on religious speech in the workplace and it appears to be protected, even in government workplaces. FYI, we're a private, non-religious company contracting with the state.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom (and some expected drivel)

Gravity
Click to expand...


why does your boss want to reduce/eliminate the religious talk?
Click to expand...

yeah I think unless production is somehow affected (which I doubt) your Boss kinda has to put up with it.

my .02

 
it all depends if they are creating an intimidating and/or hostile environment.
and since you are not a religious bussiness then i think that you have the right to
controll the tone of the people on the job. ie... can't allow someone to be spreading "their"
"word" on the job if their job is not "spreading the word". i believe you cannot discriminate against some one for them being a certain religion, but i believe that you have the right to have said person keep their beliefs to themselves while at the work place.
 
It will have to be a memo to all employee's saying what can be and can't be said so that the can be fore warned or else it can turn into some big trouble.
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
I've read the laws on religious speech in the workplace and it appears to be protected, even in government workplaces. FYI, we're a private, non-religious company contracting with the state.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom (and some expected drivel)

Gravity
Click to expand...

The part about your company contracting for the state might be the reason your boss want to stop the religous talk. As a contractor for the state you and your company represent the state and thus the grey line between seperation of church and state starts to get a bit fuzzier of where it starts and ends.

Just my thoughts.
 
Tell her to live with it, unless they're being harrassing or trying to convert her, they can talk about whatever religion they want. I'm not religious at all and sometimes people talknig a lot aboutthier religion annoys me, but I wouldn't try to tell people what they can and can't talk to each other about.
 
I support ur boss from a business' viewpoint ... not doing so would leave it wide-open for a lawsuit, irrespective of whether the plaintiff actually felt "harrased" or not 😛
 
Thx everyone. Where else can you post a serious question and get 13 responses in under an hour? Mostly serious and helpful too!

I lub j00 guys!

Gravity
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
Thx everyone. Where else can you post a serious question and get 13 responses in under an hour? Mostly serious and helpful too!

I lub j00 guys!

Gravity
Click to expand...

By the same token, where else can you post a serious question and get 100 responses of "Pics?" in under an hour? 😀
 
I think they SHOULD ban ALL religious speak. I'm sick and f*cking tired of christians in my workplace that put religious material in the bathrooms, mailboxes, and on desks.

 
Originally posted by: se7enty7
I think they SHOULD ban ALL religious speak. I'm sick and f*cking tired of christians in my workplace that put religious material in the bathrooms, mailboxes, and on desks.
Click to expand...
There's a huge difference between leaving what could be considered offensive pamphlets and talking about how church was.
 
This is protected speech. It does not matter if a private company has employees who talk about religion. The only rub here is if the business itself uses it's relationship with the state to officially promote a particular religious view.

The idea that "religious talk" cannot be spoken in the workplace could result in a huge lawsuit against the company.

If people are not trying to convert others, there is nothing you can or should do.
 
Why not just send out a generic memo stating something about respecting eachother's beliefs and/or to keep talk around the workplace work oriented?
 
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