Would this bother you?

[PurpleThistles]

So I'm a cleaner working in a school, evenings after the children and staff are all away home.

I'm also a Christian and have a little silver cross necklace I wear all the time, usually under my top. Anyways during the process of cleaning one evening, it must have worked it's way out and the other cleaner spotted it.

They told me I should not wear it whilst at work. I am not sure what the policy of the company is regarding such things as I'm very new to the job, however I was quite surprised that it was such a big deal.

I don't wear it now, because it's not a big deal really, I don't need to wear it, but after wearing it for so many years, I just feel a bit odd without it. A bit like if I have to take my wedding ring off!

Would this bother you? I guess it bothers me a little or I wouldn't be posting here.

Why is it up to the other cleaner whether you wear it or not? Is there a staff policy on this?

You should be able to wear it!!!

Umm wtf is the other cleaner telling you what you can and cannot wear?

Wear your necklace op.
.

I would look up the policy, but I don’t see why you could not continue to wear it under your top

I'm amazed anyone would care. I would have tucked it back in and ignored her as she doesn't make the rules.

WHAT!!!!! I've been a cleaner the last 6 years and it's a job you just go in, get on with it, do it and go home. Someone - not even your employer - even commented on your chain? It's not their business. Wear it. It's not hurting anyone.

I would contact your HR tomorrow, say someone had commented on your cross chain (normally under your clothing) and just check that you are OK to wear jewellery at work. I'm almost certain they will say yes.

Do Not be intimidated.

It would bother me. I wear a similar cross also. It has sentimental meaning, as well as religious.
If it wasn't coming from a direct supervisor I'd happily ignore.
Tbh I didn't think many people even noticed mine until an old boss quoted a parable at me once

No one else's business. Just wear it.

Put it back on and wear it to work.

The other cleaner has no right to tell you what you can and cannot wear.

I think that's madness. I'd understand if it was a hygiene issue, if you were working around food or something similar, but that's crazy. I'd just keep wearing it what difference does it make?! The other cleaner was being really petty to mention anything!

Ask who ever is your line manager (school bursar? The caretaker?) about what the policy is.

There can be a policy for staff to not wear slogans on clothes, or jewellery that could be dangerous but I would be surprised if you couldn't wear a necklace with religious significance.

We did have hoo-ha at work when one cleaner complained about the other cleaner wearing a summer vest. The issue was the cleaner wearing it was 70 years old, and apparently it is not right to subject others to your wrinkly body.

I'd have told her to mind her own business. She wouldn't have told a Muslim to remove her face covering or a jew to remove his skullcap, so she can go fuck herself.

What actually happened? Is she saying don’t wear it because it could get lost or damaged? Don’t wear it it’s offensive? Don’t wear it we’re no allowed dangly jewellery?

Actual context needed.

You're in a school and I'm with the Americans on this and like a separation of church and state. However all British schools are religious so it can't be that.

Dangling jewelry isn't allowed in many jobs for safety reasons.

It would bother me. I would think it was petty. In our school lots of staff wear jewellery for various reasons. Personally, I would take issue with this.

Wear what you want cheeky bugger you encountered there.

No, it would not bother me.

I would not take offence if I saw someone wearing a crucifix, I am not religious, but think if people want to wear the crucifix, star of David or any other religious symbol they should be able to if they choose because life is just too short and your colleague needs to keep their nose in their own business instead of interfering with yours, and to stop patronising you.

I have a silver cross that was given to me as a birthday gift in 2003. I have worn it almost every day since then. I am an Administrative Law Judge and it's visible when I work all the time. The appellants can see it, rhe attorneys can see it. No one's ever said anything. Wear your cross.

I have a Crucifix necklace I wear all the time.
I also have a crucifix and Rosary bead tattoo down my inner arm.
If you don't like it don't look at it 🤷‍♀️

Context, the other cleaner trained me and is 'kind of' my supervisor. They were not being nasty, apparently the area cleaning manager would have a real issue if they were to see me wearing it. I'm trying not to out myself so picking my words carefully, discussing your job/company online is a bit dodgy!

Im not religious, don’t really believe in anything and someone wearing a cross or any other symbol of their religion wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. Keep wearing it I say

I’m an atheist but I support other people’s right to free expression and to hold their own beliefs so it wouldn’t bother me at all.

I’m not a Christian and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. It might be worth keeping it tucked in though, or checking your employer’s policy since in a bid to not be seen as picking solely on hijabis some companies take issue with religious anythings.

These exact circumstances have been tested in the European Court of Human Rights.

2 cases of women wearing crucifixes. In one case (British Airways) BA were found to have infringed her rights to express her religious freedom without adequate justification. In another case (a nurse/health care worker) the infringement was justified on health and safety grounds.

www.gov.uk/government/news/wearing-of-christian-symbols-at-work

Wear your cross. It has ZERO impact on your ability to do your job.