Very religious colleague

[ThatLadyLady]

I have a new colleague who is young, and very very religious. He isn’t quiet about his beliefs and in some ways I think that’s great, because he feels comfortable enough to be that way.

But in others it’s becoming quite uncomfortable. He will regularly ask people in the office what their opinion is on things like evolution, abortion and gay marriage. If they express a “non-Christian” belief he will laugh, tell them they’re wrong and explain what the bible says about these things. He won’t drop the subject even if people are visibly uncomfortable.

We listen to music in the office and he will object to almost anything that isn’t worship music. Someone played Sam Fender the other day (the consensus amongst the office was that it was a good playlist and we all enjoyed it), he asked for it to be changed because he doesn’t align with “Christian values”. So they switched on a different playlist, the first song was an Olivia Dean song and he started ranting about how she promotes sexual activity outside of marriage and that it’s wrong, women should be waiting until marriage etc.

He also expresses pretty strong views about women dating and it not being for marriage, that it’s “great” he has so many young female colleagues but he thinks we should be looking for marriage and to be a homemaker, etc etc.

I obviously don’t dispute his right to have these views, even if I disagree with them it’s his right. But would I be unreasonable to mention it to my manager quietly because his constant expression of these feelings is becoming quite uncomfortable?

I had this every night on a night shift,a white British Christian, telling me I MUST believe in God,a Muslim,who had extra breaks supposedly for prayer. I did complain,each time the latter screamed the racist card and got away with it! He was suspended countless times (not for this) solicitor and race card, came back every time. Then we had a very nice black African lady,who started. I tried politely saying I didn't want to discuss religion. Then I'm asked why,or why don't I "believe".

Try flipping the topic and imagine he is discussing another protected characteristic under the equalities act.
he’s pushing his views on disabilities and (horrific example) everyone with a physical disability should stay at home…

pretty obvious his actions are harassment and need reporting to Hr and some serious management

You’re more patient than me. I’d be telling him he’s spouting bollocks and is a crashing bore to be around. I’d also report him for harassment.

I love that Maggie Smith quote! 😂

I think you need to start with the point that he is distracting you a lot by asking non work related questions. It doesn’t matter tbh agree you with him or not - he doesn’t get paid for talking about sex before marriage and gay rights.
But then if you in any way give him the feeling that you disagree it moves to harassment.
it sounds an awful atmosphere to work in.

This exactly what managers get paid not nearly enough for.

Just document actual incidents (factually) and pass this on.

It is absolutely inappropriate in the workplace.
Does your company have a policy on it?
Are any managers ever present in the same office as you/this guy? If so, I'm surprised and disappointed that none of them have addressed it yet.

Any road up, I'm glad you're going to speak to a manager. While it's easy to sit here and say, 'Just tell him to shut up about it,' I do appreciate that it isn't that easy in practice. More to the point, it is someone trained (HR) and/or paid more than you and your colleagues, ie management, who should bring it up.

Let’s start with saying that, if it happened, he would insist his daughter would carry a baby conceived through rape.

And then we’ll move on to his various views about the role of women in society.

I am a Christian and partial to Aerosmith, AC/DC, Yungblud and all sorts. I work with Muslims, Hindus, and Seikhs. Nobody gets ‘offended’ by anything.

Your colleague sound like a twit. I see no reason why an entire office should bow down to the preference of 1 person. Ask him to wind it in. A personal relationship with Jesus needs to be just that. Work is work and religious browbeating should not be tolerated. What about the beliefs of atheists and agnostics. I I bet they don’t go On and on.

This is why work places must remain professional environments. If you allow any sort of beliefs, including political beliefs (eg Progress Pride flags) into the work place then you cannot discriminate against those who hold alternative beliefs. It does not matter which belief is in the majority.

If he asks your opinion again on a controversial topic, clearly tell him that you are busy completing your work and you find his questions unprofessional.

If he doesn't let up then I would escalate to your managers.

Is he still in his probation period?
How is he getting work done if he is spending so much time proselytising.

Anyway, none of that stuff is appropriate for the workplace and I would have thought it is conduct issue for spouting sexist nonsense and other non-inclusionary drivel.

Back to the point of the thread:
Either tell him - ideally politely - that his comments are offensive, or note down/record what he is saying and take it to HR. Personally I’d start with the first and then progress to the second when he probably continues.

OP, it’s worth considering that protection under the Equality Act under the characteristic of religion or belief also covers a lack of religion or belief, and that’s before you even start looking at the misogynistic or homophonic comments he’s making.

He is creating a hostile/degrading/humiliating/offensive environment for you all - which is literally legal
discrimination.

His argument on music will fail too - it can be objectively justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, so it wouldn’t be indirect discrimination. He’d also likely fail the harassment test too, as it wouldn’t be objectively reasonable for playing the radio to have the effect of creating the same environment for him (assuming it’s censored pop music and not slipknot!)

TLDR - it’s fine to hold religious beliefs, but it is not fine to manifest them in an offensive manner in the workplace.

HR need to grow a pair and deal with him, but so may employers are risk averse.

Complain to HR. He’s being inappropriate. His right to religious freedom doesn’t mean he can say whatever he wants

Sounds like a MAGA incel TBH, all that shite about women in the workplace? It's harrassment and someone needs to take him aside to tell him that.

Just don't even engage. We have a bloke in work who isn't religious but is a conspiracy theorist type. I learnt a long time ago to not rise to the bait. Your colleague knows what he's doing and is trying to get a reaction. Deffo report to your manager.

I just can't get my head around this at all. It's madness.

Those are normal believe across huge swaths of America. People forget just how culturally different we are to America.

40 people in the environment but not one of them is your manager?
How is your manager not already aware of his forceful annoying opinions?

He’s not allowed to do that in the workplace.

His LM needs to have a quiet word with him and tell him to turn it in.

He needs to take a leaf out of Spock’s book: the needs of the many don’t outweigh the needs of the few.

He’s definitely been a pain in the arse where he worked before.

It’s bizarre how all 39 of you are letting yourselves be brow beaten and dictated to by this one lone young newbie.

You must be a very kind bunch, but he needs to be told kindly and firmly to completely stop him in his tracks.

🎯

Live and let live, I say. Would you be happy if he were a devout Muslim or Jew? Their beliefs on gay marriage are very similar.

Free speech is fine in one's free time. A workplace e should be respectful and adhere to HR best policies.