To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

YANBU. Unless your organisation is clearly identified as a religious organisation (ie a Christian charity or place of worship?) then no, the religious views of one employee should not be forced upon the rest of the team.

As you’ve already queried it, ask the colleague who texted you to reply to the agenda circulation with “is item 1 a typo?”

really very inappropriate.

Totally agree - this is me also.

Actually, you don't need to be a Christian, practising or otherwise, for your kids to get a place at a faith school.

Although, if such a school is oversubscribed, that is one of the criteria that can be used to allocate places.

That is totally out of order. I’m agnostic/a-religious, but don’t mind people praying for me. On the contrary, I find it deeply touching - and who knows?... But, I’m fiercely against people imposing their views on others. I even think it should be illegal to instil religious beliefs in children. I’d equally oppose teaching them to be atheists.

This is nothing to do with work though, should we all respectfully sit quietly wasting valuable time while colleagues indulge in their own personal pastimes?

This is hilarious! I'm commenting purely to have a reminder to check back on here tomorrow for an update on what happened! Utterly batshit! That's Americans for you though!

None of the kids of my acquaintances have prayer at school for decades, unless they go to a faith school. To have a place at a CoE/catholic/etc school in the UK parents have to evidence that they are adherents (christening certificates etc) and therefore explicitly consent to their children participating in prayers/religious festivals. All other schools hold secular assemblies.

It was Martin Luther King day yesterday. A public holiday.

I wouldn’t join in.
I’d probably be willing to sit quietly while those who want to do their payer, do it.

Somebody being pro-Trump at work would drive me insane!

as forced observation of religion is likely to be against the law

It's against the law in the US as well. Employees cannot be compelled to participate in prayer or any type of religious observance in the course of their employment.

It would be reasonable to inform this person's manager that your team will be online for the actual start of the work meeting and that any praying should take place before the "official" start of the meeting. In other words she can pray if she wants to but you and your colleagues cannot be compelled to participate.

I'm a Christian and I would never dream of putting a prayer on schedule for a work meeting. Totally inappropriate to assume that others would want to do this. Honestly, do you have any team members of other religions to offer leading the team in prayer of their own next time? As I bet she would lose her shit if they even suggested it!

Totally unhinged to even suggest it.

I'd say that if it's the first thing on the agenda, and someone is going to lead the prayer, then staff who feel that praying during office hours and during a meeting, can join said meeting after the prayer.
The person saying the prayer doesn't have to like it, but they do have to accept it, just as the people who don't want to listen to the prayer have to accept that this may be a thing now but they also don't have to attend morning prayer.

Any religion or religious ideology has no place in the work environment. Yes, your beliefs are part of your identity, but you can keep those to yourself, at work, otherwise it could potentially make others around you feel uncomfortable. I am lapsed and an atheist but have learned to keep those views, at work, to myself. No one should have to be forced to go along with having to take part in any one’s prayers.

Most people aren't atheists and don't agree belief can be split from their being, whether in the workplace or not. People can't leave thier beliefs or philosophies at the door.

No-one expects them to. But they should internalize it and not pressure others to join in with worship in the workplace. It's completely inappropriate and unprofessional. Absolutely no way should anyone feel they should just 'go along with it' for an easy life and to indulge this sort of nonsense.

Parents are allowed to withdraw their children from collective worship (which is what prayers would be) at school, though.

Isn't it funny that we all agree that this is totally inappropriate. And yet all of our children have prayers every day at school... not that that's appropriate either but no one kicks up a stink about it.

I think yabu and your judgement is clouded by her political views. You shouldn't be forced to join in prayer but should respectfully sit quietly whilst those who want to participate do.

I'd like to think that in this situation, I would say or email directly to the prayerful one: "As an atheist, I will join the meeting after the prayers" and then I would wait outside the meeting until that bit was done. At least that way I'm staying true to my own beliefs without trying to control anyone else.

It would seriously fuck me off though and I'd have to rise above the irritation I'd have at the colleague who thought they could dictate prayers in a meeting.

More people in UK are atheist than believe in God: report | World

I think you need to 100% respect this co-workers religious belief, I also think you need to 100% attend the meeting dressed like this @Iamthewintersale

And what about those of a different belief to the person leading the prayer? Should they just go along with it, even if it is against their own beliefs / philosophies?

How frustrating. What utter nonsense. I wonder if the project hadn’t been a success who would have been blamed for its failure?

Ah this is interesting!

Many years ago I worked for an organisation who was the customer to an American organisation.

At the end of a long series of activities we had a "wash up" meeting which was led by a manager who was slightly higher grade than those we'd been dealing with.

He suggested that we started the meeting with a prayer! Cue lots of raised eyebrows but we let him get on with it. Very bizarre.

May your colleague is having an evangelical moment? Not that that excuses it, but nothing surprised me when working there (in the south/bible belt of the USA in my case).

I think you need to ask your manager about running this “harmless’ prayer by the uk legal team, as forced observation of religion is likely to be against the law. Would she check this with a UK based lawyer/HR and pass their legal opinion back to you.

i think you might find it becomes too much work, and no longer harmless.

The US is very religious and very Christian centric.