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.

I'm assuming the OP won't be expected to participate in the prayers so I really dont understand the issue.

Because frankly it’s a waste of my time. And I’ve enough work to be doing.

Not that I’m the OP but that would be my opinion. It’s highly inappropriate.

So would you be fine if someone added an agenda point discussing the merits of satanism, or a speech on how wrong abortion is, or a debate on why they should vote Conservatives?

None of the above would be in any way appropriate. Neither is a prayer.

Um. Because they're FAITH schools and that's part of their ethos?

It is not the same situation at all.

I guess you could decide to be the 'champion' who puts their head above the parapet for this. There are plenty of colleagues that would doubtless cheer you on whilst keeping themselves out of harm's way.

This has reminded me of something a friend recounted. He worked across the US for years, many different states. His own business, sold to many large companies.

He never got over being invited to join managers' families to go to church on a Sunday and share lunch with the 'community' afterwards. Then, the children would be sent off to play whilst the adults watched porn. Absolutely true story.

Complete hypocrisy.

Tell your colleague and your manager a big fat NO! You won't be participating in that part of the agenda but will join in when that is over.

Even in schools, pupils don't have to attend religious services that don't align with their beliefs.

Unbelievable!

Because up till now it has not been normal practice and this loon woman has suddenly decided to introduce it?

Personally then I'd just 'smile and wave.'
I've been around big companies too long to be bothered by the utter stupidity of others.

@EssexCat how much time do you think a prayer is going to waste? 😆. Maybe 30 seconds at the beginning of the meeting. I'm not sure you would have time to get too much work done in that time.

When it's your turn to do the meeting, add an item to open titled "why religion is a load of shit."

If the bible bashers can have their way, you should too.

Join camera off and use it as a coffee break. Perhaps encourage her to really spend as much time as she needs on this very important issue ;)

I would join late. Tech problems.

It’s not at all unusual here in the Uk. The first thing that former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf did when he took up office was to lead prayers in the official residence

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/29/scotlands-first-minister-leads-ramadan-prayers-first-night-bute/

No one in Scotland was bothered, it’s a diverse country.

@JimHalpertsWife It's hardly the same thing. The OP says thst a prayer will take place at the start of the meeting - no mention of any discussion about any religion.

Ask if you can say the prayer.

Have fun!

And the US Manager has said 'it's harmless'.

I have not the slightest care what the OP does but I think she's foolish to make an issue of something she could so easily not participate in/excuse herself from.

We're all different. I'm not into drama at work.

Why? All it is is sitting listening to someone talk at you. You don't have to join in.

A prayer is a display of religion.

Islamic prayer request would likely give her a coronary as she’s a trump supporter.

I would simply turn off my camer and do some other work.

I'd also quietly judge the manager who should absolutely be nipping this in the bud, right now.

He did that in the official residence, if he'd have done it in a business meeting it would have been inappropriate.

Well, it’s a video call so I suppose I sit there and listen to her thank god for Trump or whatever the hell she wants to pray about????

Utterly inappropriate.

Perhaps you can do a short reading from Richard Dawkins for the AOCB.

I’d be tempted to say it would take far too long as, obviously, all the various religions represented in your diverse team would also need time for prayer

Not for me but there again everything isn’t about me so I’d just let them crack on and not join in

I used to work with a team in Tennessee and their idea of religion was a joke. I’ve never met such a bunch of vindictive back stabbers and the most suppposedly religious one of the lot was the worst one.