Sent an email with God Bless as a sign off

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

I wasn't sure where to put this.

I've just received a work related email from an outside organisation with some very useful contacts and project opportunities.

The author signed off as stated in the subject line. I don't care one way or another and shall follow up as usual.

I've never seen a work email signed off in this way. Would you think it not really the right thing to do? I can imagine someone somewhere would complain if they were petty enough.

So it's not me being unreasonable but do you think the sender is? It doesn't bother me, would it you?

I've had some work emails over the years signed off like this. I used to have a colleague about 20 years ago who always signed off his emails like that - he was a very evangelical Christian who absolutely did try to push his religion on people at work, frequently, to the point where people did complain about it. He would leave leaflets from his church on people's desks and put religious posters up in the office etc. And for that reason, his 'god bless' emails annoyed me because it was part of a pattern of unacceptable behaviour. But I also have a couple of colleagues now who both sign off 'God bless' in friendly work emails - they are both Nigerian and it just seems to be a standard friendly thing from them. They don't ever talk about religion at work or anything, so it doesn't feel like it's part of an attempt to evangelise in the office, and they are both lovely, so it honestly just feels like they're saying 'Cheers' or 'Take care' really.

I'd think "huh, didn't have them down as a god-botherer." Then I'd move on with my day.

Meh wouldn't bother me. I'm not religious and wouldn't reply the same way back but I don't see the harm in it either really

I work for the Church of England... that's a fairly common sign off - or just 'blessings'. 😄

In any other workplace I might raise an eyebrow the first time I saw it, but if it was 'just the person's way of doing things', or appropriate for the organisation / context of the email, it wouldn't bother me at all.