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Original poster

To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

587 replies

Iamthewintersale · 21/01/2025 13:56

Will try to keep this brief… Work in a team of 12, 6 in U.K. and 6 in USA ( mid-west) and once a week we have a team meeting that we take turns in running.

Tomorrow is the turn of A. A is a Republican, church goer, voted Trump because she wanted, quote ‘More money in my pocket book and illegals dealt with’.
So far so MAGA. This came up pre-election as she’s the only Trump fan on the team and was open about it.

On the agenda for the meeting is ‘Prayer’ as point one. I pinged manager a note saying what?? A thinks it would be nice to start off with a prayer. As a team. I have asked for it to be OFF the agenda. US manager thinks it’s ‘harmless’ but has said will clarify.

AIBU to think it’s totally inappropriate??? I’m an atheist for a start, most of my U.K. team are the same or at least agnostic.

Seems weird that she’s never tried this before, but suddenly Trump ‘god saved me to MAGA’ is inaugurated and a team prayer is in the agenda.
We are a large global company, BTW, not some local mom & pop outfit that sells bibles…

YANBU - work is secular. She keeps her views and prayers to herself own time.

YABU - lighten up, what harm can it do.

OP posts:
ViolinsPlayGentlyOn · 21/01/2025 17:34

AllCatAndABagOfChips · 21/01/2025 17:32

Also when did you have extensive religious discussions with your entire UK team btw to determine their agnosticism? I find that almost as surprising as a multinational American company putting prayer on the agenda? Because to the untrained observer this reads like it was written by someone who knows exactly nothing about American companies and nothing about normal behavior in the UK.

I think most people know if their close colleagues follow a specific religion, don’t they? And if it hasn’t come up in conversation then it’s a fair assumption someone is non-religious.

Flux1 · 21/01/2025 17:34

Totally inappropriate. Tell them to let you and your team know once they have finished praying and are ready to work and then you will join the meeting.

BoudiccasBangles · 21/01/2025 17:34

HowardTJMoon · 21/01/2025 13:57

If she insists, ask if you can do a pagan prayer at the next meeting.

This!

c3pu · 21/01/2025 17:33

Quietly murmur "Allahu Akhbar" throughout the prayer.

AllCatAndABagOfChips · 21/01/2025 17:32

Also when did you have extensive religious discussions with your entire UK team btw to determine their agnosticism? I find that almost as surprising as a multinational American company putting prayer on the agenda? Because to the untrained observer this reads like it was written by someone who knows exactly nothing about American companies and nothing about normal behavior in the UK.

whyhere · 21/01/2025 17:30

Anglican priest here. Completely inappropriate - complain to HR.

EarthSight · 21/01/2025 17:29

In U.K, I think you could legally decline on belief or non belief grounds.

It comes across like they're asserting some power or dominance. Same reason why I don't think like pronoun introduction nonsense. It's mostly to designed to reinforce their idea that they are righteous, and out anyone who is a dissenter.

Cherrysoup · 21/01/2025 17:28

Iamthewintersale · 21/01/2025 16:47

Other UK colleague has mentioned to line manager that it contravenes U.K. law… so I don’t think prayers will be happening. Not at this meeting anyway.

Excellent!

People asking what harm it does, or saying just let her, are drastically missing the point.
In your opinions this may be a small thing - but it's a breach of the Equality Act 2010. It's also a breach of Fundamental British Values. So this time it's "just a prayer" - but erosion starts as "just a drop".
It doesn't matter that it's "just a prayer" - it's divisive, and inappropriate.

Absolutely agree!

My entire department happens to be Catholic, pure coincidence, but I’d object if one of them wanted to do prayers at the start of a meeting. It’s just not appropriate in my workplace, plus I had plenty of forced attendance at mass/prayers as a child.

AllCatAndABagOfChips · 21/01/2025 17:28

Gosh. This all sounds so unbelievable. So very unbelievable. How strange.

Willowkins · 21/01/2025 17:27

I work in a church so we get a lot of prayer (and I love it) but there's no way I would force it on people.

YeGodsandLittleFishies · 21/01/2025 17:25

I’m a Christian and if someone put prayer on the agenda for a meeting in my workplace I would contact HR (and I would contact them LOUDLY)

It’s NOT harmless, it’s performative and othering and open to terrible abuse.

Someone who would suggest something so inappropriate is not above highly manipulative nonsense during the prayer.

Soñando25 · 21/01/2025 17:25

Just no and I say this as a practising Christian. This is not appropriate at all in the workplace.

Natsku · 21/01/2025 17:21

YANBU, its extremely inappropriate to have prayer in a work meeting

MrsSunshine2b · 21/01/2025 17:21

GreenTeaSipper · 21/01/2025 17:11

Genuinely curious, what makes you think it could possibly be illegal?

Show quote history

I would imagine that forcing all staff to participate in a religious ceremony would count as direct discrimination and fall foul of the Equality Act.

MikeRafone · 21/01/2025 17:21

a while back - then realises it was 13 years....ffs

MikeRafone · 21/01/2025 17:19

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16980025

MikeRafone · 21/01/2025 17:18

GreenTeaSipper · 21/01/2025 17:11

Genuinely curious, what makes you think it could possibly be illegal?

Show quote history

Because possibly asking people to attend a meeting and then want to have a pray at the start - then forcing those not want to pray to leave the room is going to have some type of regulation.

As its forcing people to either ray or leave the start of the meeting, which is not appropriate behaviour - have the prays t another time for this that do want to take part. Forcing someone to leave a room is the part that is probably illegal, if it is illegal

wasn't there a whole thing in Bideford a while back at the council meeting about praying at the start

Whenwillglorioussummercome · 21/01/2025 17:17

Anuta77 · 21/01/2025 16:31

Trump has nothing to do with it.
Many religious individuals want prayers to be allowed at the workplace, such as muslims and I doubt they are pro Trump.
But no, nobody should be imposing their religion on others.

Private religious observance during the working day, which is where Islamic worship comes into workplaces, is wholly different to requiring colleagues to participate in a group religious activity against their will. The protected characteristic of religion or belief is at play in both cases in both UK and US legislation.

Spirallingdownwards · 21/01/2025 17:15

OliveThe0therReindeer · 21/01/2025 14:16

I think you need to separate out three things

  • your dislike of her politics
  • you dislike of her religion
  • Having religious observance during a work meeting

As you work in the Uk you will be aware that people here have freedoms of both religion and political belief. This applies to everyone, even if you don’t agree with them. It’s a fundamental part of human rights here in the Uk and criticising someone for expressing their views is probably a breach of your company policy.

That’s different from the third point, which depends on your company custom and practice, if it’s not mentioned in policy.

If you don’t wish to particulate you can ask your line manager for a respectful way to opt out.

I understand it can be challenging to work with people of different cultures, ethnicities and religions from your own , but it’s important to respect differences and appreciate that a workplace benefits from diversity and acceptance.

Your HR dept might be able to provide some training for you and your team on diversity and inclusion.

The respectful way for people to drop out is for the item to drop off the agenda and people not be forced to take part or even entertain it as part of a work meeting HTH.

Here or in the US.

tiaa54742025 · 21/01/2025 17:15

You're likely to see more instances like this unfortunately.

A PP commented that such people felt "entitled" to push their prayer routine on to others; as good as demanding that they participate before a joint meeting.

I would say yes, they feel entitled, but also VERY MUCH Emboldened now too, in their own country and beyond, and not just with prayers.

I think you should be firm with your US manager, who thinks this is 'harmless' ; make sure he clarifies this. A huge global company should not be letting one person dictate how a meeting begins.

Maboscelar · 21/01/2025 17:13

I'm a Christian and think this is utterly mad. I've only ever had prayer happen in one workplace and that was a Christian charity and it was an optional prayer meeting at the beginning of the day. It's completely inappropriate in any other setting.

WhoDatNow · 21/01/2025 17:11

Very performative - inappropriately so. Although frankly 'give me strength' is often on my lips in meetings ...

GreenTeaSipper · 21/01/2025 17:11

MrsSunshine2b · 21/01/2025 17:08

Absolutely inappropriate and possibly illegal.

Genuinely curious, what makes you think it could possibly be illegal?

MrsSunshine2b · 21/01/2025 17:08

Absolutely inappropriate and possibly illegal.

Maray1967 · 21/01/2025 17:06

Winterwonders24 · 21/01/2025 16:54

As a Christian, couldn't agree more

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Same here. This is wholly inappropriate.

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