To have objected to ‘prayers’ at work

[Iamthewintersale]

Will try to keep this brief… Work in a team of 12, 6 in U.K. and 6 in USA ( mid-west) and once a week we have a team meeting that we take turns in running.

Tomorrow is the turn of A. A is a Republican, church goer, voted Trump because she wanted, quote ‘More money in my pocket book and illegals dealt with’.
So far so MAGA. This came up pre-election as she’s the only Trump fan on the team and was open about it.

On the agenda for the meeting is ‘Prayer’ as point one. I pinged manager a note saying what?? A thinks it would be nice to start off with a prayer. As a team. I have asked for it to be OFF the agenda. US manager thinks it’s ‘harmless’ but has said will clarify.

AIBU to think it’s totally inappropriate??? I’m an atheist for a start, most of my U.K. team are the same or at least agnostic.

Seems weird that she’s never tried this before, but suddenly Trump ‘god saved me to MAGA’ is inaugurated and a team prayer is in the agenda.
We are a large global company, BTW, not some local mom & pop outfit that sells bibles…

YANBU - work is secular. She keeps her views and prayers to herself own time.

YABU - lighten up, what harm can it do.

Or leave camera on to show an empty chair (you can hide out sight - that way you’d know when it’s over).

I frankly doubt the validity of this one.

It might have been believable if the OP hadn't also made particular pains to paint the supposed Christian as a stereotypical immigrant hating, Trump loving, Maga waving alt-right Republican.

People fall for these sorts of threads because they want them to be true so it can put a tick box against all their hidden biases.

Totally beside the point. But now when anyone says in a largely women’s space ‘I’m an Anglican Priest’ I will gasp and think ‘are you Lisa????!!” If you are not Lisa I get the impression that she would be wholeheartedly with you on this.

(I’m referencing The Traitors in case your thinking WHAT is this loon blathering on about)

No. There are plenty of people who have been psychologically damaged by experiences with religion. It is wrong to bring in a practice that might be stressful, or alienating, for some.

As a Christian, it would be nice if the workplace had a place where people (of any faiths) could go for a quiet prayer, but I would never think of making the office pray, or even praying for them!

Oh difficult one. I personally know you need to accommodate diversity but I think that you should keep politics and religion out of the workplace where possible. And also, the employment laws in this country are different to the USA so I think you need to check with HR on that one.

My personal response would be just that, I would accept the meeting request, with comments to the effect that I prefer to keep religion and politics out of the workplace but am happy to accommodate the needs of others. As such if she feels it appropriate to go ahead with a prayer, please don't think I am being disrespectful if I do not join in and if this is to become a regular feature, then it needs to rotate around the different religions represented within the group to be fully inclusive.

And if I was drunk when I was writing it, I would add that I am a practising nudist and look forward to everyone joining me in my prayers when its my turn.

‘Pray all the time myself silently in private as I go about my day, ‘am RC but NO YANBU!

Olivetheotherreindeer
The OP does not need training. It is inappropriate to be bringing prayer into a work meeting. Being free to have a faith does not mean forcing it on others. The woman in question can pray at home or in her head or in a private office or outside but what she can't do is put it on a work place agenda. Perhaps you need some training yourself?

Totally agree

Bloody ridiculous - completely inappropriate

OP is just your standard anti American nonsense that MN eats up regardless of how absolutely idiotic it is. "So far so Maga" "'Merica" etc. it's blatantly ridiculous and makes no sense but won't stop ten pages of people believing it.

I agree. For the umpteenth time...

Under US law this hypothetical person has no legal right to pray out loud before a meeting. And the law is very clear that no employee can be forced to participate in any religious observance during the course of their work day.

And yet the US based manager supposedly thinks it's "harmless"🤔

Nah.

Ha ha! No, I'm not Lisa, but I am watching the Traitors!

You are not at all unreasonable, it is highly unprofessional. I am a believer but wouldn't even have thought of doing anything like that at work, it was never even mentioned, faith or lack of it is a personal matter.

However America is very, very different. People talk about their faith loudly and proudly in any circumstances - which is something the orange man has played to very effectively.

Over here we don't care what religion our prime minister, or any politician, espouses, or if she/he has none, as long as they don't bang on about it. It's their business. A politician may be anti-abortion but over here, he or she realises that is only one issue, can't do anything about it anyway, and concentrates on other things. We don't talk about religion full stop. It's unBnitish.

It is not unAmerican.

I'm with you all the way on this but I am not sure you can do anything about it. You could just be quiet, let her get on with it and join in the meeting once she is through. You won't be alone.

Good luck.

And you think they don't exist??!

Someone put the tango'ed meglomaniac back in the White House...

The prayer is totally inappropriate.

I don't, I used to be in the evangelical church and know of plenty of people who would absolutely do this. You clearly haven't had the 'pleasure' of encountering any of these nut jobs on social media, many don't even concern themselves with following Jesus anymore, Trump is their new messiah. I wish I was joking.

Don't be surprised if she starts claiming religious persecution if it is removed from the agenda OP.

YANBU but aren't you just a little curious about how it would go? I'd be so tempted to let her go ahead. If it's just a God Bless our team and workplace I'd be willing to overlook it as whimsical. Any Trump or Maga nonsense and I'd be on to HR

I'm an atheist, but surely she's offering her words to the wrong ears? Shouldn't she be thanking the sulphurous chap in the base?

Slow down there, she’s absolutely fine as a colleague. She, like many in the USA
And here ( Reform anyone?) is worried about illegal immigration and the economy. MOST Trump voters have said they think they’ll have more money under him.
She’s not alt-right. She is both a massive church goer and a Republican. The two do often go hand in hand, at least in my experience they do.

Social media is not the same as your place of work.

🙄

Reform has got more members than the Tories but if I posted that we're doing a brain storming session at work to get kick out the "illegals" you'd know I was lying. Because it's clearly fucking nonsense if you engage your brain.

A manager not knowing employment law is entirely believable.

I never said it was. If you read the first part of my comment you'll see that I have actually encountered people in real life who would do this. 🙄

I would join the meeting as usual, then as she’s about to launch into prayer say that you’re leaving the meeting for this part (politely - no drama) (maybe prep other UK colleagues to do the same) then rejoin after.

i don’t think anyone should have religious activity forced on them,

as an ex-vangelical I’d find it really triggering!

This is the same for me. I also have a friend whose family disowned her when she left the Jehovah's Witnesses so for some, forced involvement in religious practices is very much not 'harmless'.

I would refuse to join the meeting unless it prayers were removed from the agenda.

Just sit out the prayer. Let those who want to want to, and you sit it out.

Well, that's pompous!
The OP is very reasonably objecting to being forced to participate in someone's private act of worship, not the fact her colleague has certain religious views!