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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would this bother you?

43 replies

PurpleThistles · 01/04/2022 20:19

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.

OP posts:

StoneofDestiny · 01/04/2022 21:39

Ridiculous - can't imagine anybody objecting to a piece of jewellery whatever is depicted on it. Keep wearing it.

Italiangreyhound · 01/04/2022 21:39

Wear it, the other cleaner is mad.

Hesma · 01/04/2022 21:45

It’s against the law to discriminate on religious grounds. Would she say the same if you wore a hijab for example? Just tell her to do one and carry on op

Original poster

PurpleThistles · 01/04/2022 21:49

I actually get on very well with the other cleaner, they are lovely, i think she said it because she must have known or witnessed the person in charge of auditing the cleaning have an issue with it. It was so sudden and I didn't question them anymore about it as I was really taken aback. I do agree, in terms of safety, dangly jewellery is not a good idea, it is a short chain through and I do have it tucked in, but I will check the policies and see what is said.

OP posts:

Booboobagins · 01/04/2022 21:50

Wear it. Put it inside your top. Seriously noone has tge right to tell you nit to wear it, its like telling a Sikh male not to wear a turban!

Cbes · 01/04/2022 21:54

@MrsTerryPratchett separation of church and state mean that the two organisations act independently of each other, not that there can be no expression of religion affiliation within a state owned property.

Whybot · 01/04/2022 21:59

You are allowed to wear it . There was a case with an employee of British Airways who won the right to wear a cross at work .

LampLighter414 · 01/04/2022 22:26

Health and safety innit

Rights · 01/04/2022 22:51

Your colleague is talking rubbish. People have won cases against their employers for making them remove perfectly unobtrusive religious symbols. You 100% have the right to wear it, OP.

Lilifer · 01/04/2022 22:56

@LndnGrl

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.

Yep, this! ⬆️

ColtBolt · 01/04/2022 23:00

Huh. That’s very odd. I would find out why.

balloonsintrees · 01/04/2022 23:09

@MrsTerryPratchett

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.

??? Are we looking at the same America here? The one where religion (basically evangelical Christianity) is in every facet of their existence and especially schools - the Constitution is an inherently religious tome.

The difference with here is that we educate our students to be able to develop their own ideas about religion; we study it to see how and why an individual's worldview is so coloured by it; finally we examine how societies develop around specific beliefs which mainly stem from a concept of Divine Command.

OP, wear your cross, your colleague is an uninformed muppet - dread to think what they would make of my classroom with its glittery Jesus, light up Buddha, Walt Disney Dreidels and much more religious tat!

altforvarmt · 02/04/2022 00:02

Wear your necklace, OP. I'm an atheist who believes in your right to wear a symbol of your faith.

The only reasonable exception I can think of is if you were using machinery that could catch it and potentially cause you an injury. If not, and there's nothing in your code of conduct banning it for good reason, then keep wearing it.

Grumpasaurusrex · 02/04/2022 00:04

I wear a cross. I would not be removing it for anyone, not even a boss, let alone a colleague.

steff13 · 02/04/2022 19:28

is in every facet of their existence and especially schools

I went to school in America, so do my children. Religion plays no part.

ColtBolt · 02/04/2022 20:07

@steff13

is in every facet of their existence and especially schools

I went to school in America, so do my children. Religion plays no part.

I suspect that you are oblivious to the endemic nature of religion in the USA if you actually think that religion plays no part in USA schools. The thought is laughable.

Are we looking at the same America here? The one where religion (basically evangelical Christianity) is in every facet of their existence and especially schools - the Constitution is an inherently religious tome. @balloonsintrees is correct

PebbleMillAtOne · 02/04/2022 20:46

Check the policy and do what that says not some nosy jobsworth little irk

MurmuratingStarling · 02/04/2022 20:58

@PurpleThistles

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!

@PurpleThistles

As a few others have said, would this 'kind of supervisor' and the 'Area Cleaning Manager' have any issue with anyone wearing a 'Religious Symbol' if it was any other faith?

No.

Tell her her comments are massively insulting. Because they are.

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