To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

She doesn't need to leave them at the door. She just needs to keep them in her head for the duration of the call. Much like her colleagues who think she's a Trumpet lovin', dingbat, bigoted MAGA twat will be keeping THOSE thoughts in their heads too. 🙂

WTF? No way, totally inappropriate for a professional setting.

They can have it in their soul/brains/body and it will likely inform their actions or decisions in some ways but they can keep the performance of it to the appropriate venues.

You are right to object to starting a business meeting with a Christian prayer, or any prayer. It's not inclusive, it's not appropriate and it's not necessary.

Who she voted for is completely irrelevant but it's interesting and very telling that you felt the need to set the whole AIBU about the prayer up with a moan about her being a Trump supporter.

I wonder if you'd be making so much of a fuss about the prayer if she'd been a Democrat?

she wanted, quote ‘More money in my pocket book and illegals dealt with’.

Has anyone in the history of elections ever voted for less money in their pocket and more illegal immigrants coming in and going undealt with? I doubt it.

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.

Just go along with it and then move on if you don't like it.

I am a practising Christian but would never want this at a work meeting. I would respect my colleagues’ feelings and expect them to do the same for mine. There is no place for any public prayers, to any deity, that are right in this meeting.

She is in the wrong, her beliefs are hers and hers alone.

She is riding on Trump’s coat tails.

Totally inappropriate.

I hope so, long overdue. We shouldn’t still be beholden to Henry or Cromwell’s (either of them) shenanigans, as if any of it had much to do with the faith side of it all anyway. They got their land and trinkets. Time to move on.

My husband works for one of the big 4 banks and they have done some bat shit stuff in the name of inclusion but I don't think they would even try this. Although all the us employees had the day off yesterday, but maybe it was a public holiday

to everyone saying respect cultural differences, this is not an accepted practice in the United States. Group prayer during meetings does not happen in secular workplaces. It would happen at a religious school, a church, or a faith-based charity, but not a regular workplace.

there may be a space at the office where people can go pray or reflect. My own office has a room that has the compass directions marked, enough floor space if someone wanted to be on the ground, a nice chair, and some comfy poof things. You could kneel towards Mecca, say a Catholic prayer, meditate, or just take a few quiet minutes to yourself.

A Hail Mary would tip her over the edge. She’s in one of those evangelical type, the pope is a false prophet type churches.

I'm very lapsed Catholic and wouldn't take too kindly to being led in prayer by a Catholic hater.

Looks like she's gonna piss everyone off. Fun times. 😀

Have you a HR to bring this too? It’s wildly inappropriate. Personally I would refuse to attend any work meeting where someone was allowed to force their religious beliefs on me.

It's irrelevant how long it takes. There is no reason for anyone to made to listen to a prayer in their workplace, unless they work in a religious setting.

Even within this context, the continuing existence of Commons prayers remains controversial as Members must be in their seats for Prayers to claim them for the session. So on busy days when seats are in demand, they need to be present for them, even if they don't participate. There have been repeated attempts to remove Prayers as a standing item on the Orders of the Day; in fact, the most recent was in the news just last week. I think their days are numbered really.

MPs acting against Commons’ prayer seating privilege

But prayers would probably take 30 seconds!

I would be arriving late to that particular meeting , absolutely bonkers and totally offensive.

I agree it’s inappropriate, a work place should be impartial about religion, not a certain one prioritised in a professional meeting. If she is being allowed to do it, I would pop a message to say that as you are not religious will not be partaking in the prayer, so can someone message you when it’s over and you will join the call then?

I was really expecting a YABU. From the title, I thought OP would be complaining about someone else getting time to pray or praying openly at work, but no—that is unhinged. YANBU. I wouldn’t partake, and I don’t think it’s an acceptable ask or reflects well on the company’s EDI situation.

Let's say for argument's sake everyone is on £25 an hour and praying takes 10 mins.
For 12 of you at one meeting a week that's costing them £2k a year on prayer time.
If all 1,000 people just in your division do it that's six figures a year lost.

I think it was Jesus himself!

I would ask that it be changed to "meditation time" or "quiet moment" so it can everyone can easily participate no matter their faith.

Love this. Quakers had it right in some respects.

Let the US people do this before the UK people join the meeting. Expecting everyone to join in with (I presume) Christian prayers is completely inappropriate.

I bet this colleague would have a few words to say if a Muslim member of the team expected everyone to join in with their prayers.

Is your US office in the 'bible belt'? I worked in Georgia for a while, and this sort of thing wasnt uncommon.

I am a Christian and even I find this inappropriate