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.

People asking what harm it does, or saying just let her, are drastically missing the point.

In your opinions this may be a small thing - but it's a breach of the Equality Act 2010. It's also a breach of Fundamental British Values. So this time it's "just a prayer" - but erosion starts as "just a drop".

It doesn't matter that it's "just a prayer" - it's divisive, and inappropriate.

It also means the company could be sued - and that's not a small thing.

What if all faiths demanded to be included on the basis that it's discrimination to restrict it to Christians? If the company say no - that's discrimination, they get sued. If they say yes - no work is getting done because all meetings are now prayer meetings.

It's not "just a prayer" it's the impact of allowing one religion into a diverse secular workplace.

I’m a practising catholic and this is not on. Personal faith does not belong in the workplace and it definitely doesn’t belong on a teams meeting! Tell her jump and see if the Don catches her

In that case it may be resolvable.

It's interesting; the quarterback in the winning team of a massive football match in the US last night started his post-match interview by thanking his lord and savior Jesus Christ. Personal view, if it' s a 30 second 'may god help us make the right decisions and yadda yadda yadda' then let them get on with it, turn your camera and mic off. If they start wanting responses, then point out that because of UK law they'll need to start their meeting at xx:55 and the rest of you will join at the start time.

Tell them you’d like to add an agenda item - a 5 minute reading from the Quran to close off each meeting. See what they say 👌

Religion is a form of identity politics, so it can't be apolitical...

And to all the people going on about how religion is part of American culture: WRONG. There are over 350m people in this country. Not only is generalizing stupid, in this case it's also factually incorrect for any of the major business hubs (NY, LA, SF, Chicago, big cities in Texas etc) where religion never even figures. It's also factually incorrect in that evangelical-lite Christians (of whom this woman would be a variety if she thinks this is in any way appropriate) are a small minority and many, many, many other faiths are available. She's just got carried away by yesterday's display, and she - like every Trump follower today - thinks she's on top of and owns the world. She needs telling.

Also, this country is literally founded on the separation of church and state, unlike the UK which, as they keep banging on about, they fought a bloody war to overthrow!

Unbelievable. This is the kind of hypocrisy that Trump supporters revel in. It's bullshit and we need people in Europe and elsewhere to continue to remind them how fucking stupid and wrong they are. Whatever you do, don't allow it into your own lives.

Exactly. And it's a waste of the time of every person attending that meeting. If you spend just 5 minutes on prayer and there are 24 people there, that's two hours of expensive time down the tubes - to say nothing of the time wasted whilst the participants are busy resenting having to do it.

And say "I have a bad feeling about this."

Of course not. They happen every meeting though. Why make a thing of it?

All of the posters egging the OP on to address this with HR (who work for the company), it's not them who will be taking the fall, is it? Still, so much fun.

I would cut some slack if it was a prayer for a family or following some horrendous tragedy somewhere. I still wouldn't be massively happy about it, but people can mean well and be awkward in their delivery. As a one off, I'd let go.

Link to an ELECTION? Fuck that.

Frankly, it wouldn't matter if it was the side I support or not. Work is never the time nor the place.

As a devout Christian, I think this is inappropriate. The workplace is not a place for public prayer.

It could set an unwanted precedent

You're working with colleagues in the US for whom this is important. You could make a point but why? How would it serve you?

It can't be that important if they've never done it before.

This thread is ridiculous and so is the OP. I think it's just a rant about Trump, what a bore. Enjoy.

Can you turn the sound off? And hope that it doesnt end with an Elon Musk salute! By the way, as a Christian myself, I think it's totally inappropriate.

It may be an American company but it’s an international business. If they want the trade benefits of working in other territories then they adapt, not impose.

There are prayers at the start of each day in the Houses of Commons and Lords but attendance is not compulsory link. By tradition the members face the wall, maybe the op could follow this tradition.

More seriously, I'm a Christian but would find this totally inappropriate (Matthew 6 www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zkw2vk7/revision/2

Wtf. Nope. You cannot in a professional meeting force this on colleagues...
If it goes ahead, I'd have Internet connectivity problems..

Video meeting? If so either:
a) put up a crucifix prominently behind you and dramatically make the sign of the cross as she begins and ends
or
b) make some signs and hold them up Love Actually style, throughout her prayer. Messages along the lines of “Alleluia”, “Praise the Lord!”, so you can’t be accused of making fun of her. You might be able to slip in a “Heavens to Betsy!” and plead ignorance.

If grilled afterwards say that you’ve been banned from taking part in organised religion so you wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

It wouldn't offend me but I believe in God. Workplace however is not the place to pray especially pushing views on others I don't think that's appropriate. She is allowed to support any president she chooses though, you sound rather condescending.

No, leave camera on and ostentatiously slurp coffee whilst carrying on with your work, preferably involving a lot of noisy shuffling of papers, stapling things and hole punching.

mute your mic

leave camera on

don Mongolian Shaman costume

quietly perform shamanistic ritual dance with a completely straight face in full view of camera.

But how does the manager know it's harmless? For all he knows, a number of participants would be deeply offended. It's dangerous to give religious loons free rein on this sort of thing anyway, before you know it they'll be praying loudly to save their rivals within the team from the fiery pit of hell for which they are surely destined, and you'll have open warfare.