We prayed at lunch!

[angellica]

you mean its not obvious?

Between your "I think that went over your head" post and the one before it, there were these comments:

Originally Posted by angellica
People in this forum have whined and complained about it so much, but I have yet to hear anyone at work even mention it.
So they are cowed into silence?

What kind of corporate cult is this?!?
Originally Posted by angellica
So when are you moving out of the country? Are you going to report the President for endorsing a specific faith-based ritual at his inauguration? STOP THE PRESSES!! Have you reported this to any news outlets? Have you wrote to your local representatives?
Alas, my country openly funds religious institutions at a federal level without shame or excuse. What do you think my local representatives are going to do about that?

Originally Posted by selfinflikted
once a month, my department has a "pot-luck" day, where we all bring a dish and eat it together. The rest of them usually say a "blessing" out loud, I just stand there with my eyes open and do not participate. It doesn't bother me, in fact, it kinda makes me giggle inside. But hey, it's not hurting me so.. whatev.
I have to eat with colleagues all the time. I'm the only vegetarian in my new dept. It has taken some time to get it through their heads to not be so meat-centric. lol I'll repeat, if someone busted out with a blessing or prayer, I'd fall over.

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
So they are cowed into silence?

What kind of corporate cult is this?!?
Haha, I guess it'd be beyond your comprehension to imagine that they actually just didn't mind. Corporate cult, lol.

Alas, my country openly funds religious institutions at a federal level without shame or excuse. What do you think my local representatives are going to do about that?
Well, you have to start somewhere! What have you done to report this specific faith-based ritual? If you do not report it, you are just as guilty. Why isn't there going to be a prayer to Allah as well? Why the religious discrimination at the inauguration?

Originally Posted by Braunwyn
I have to eat with colleagues all the time. I'm the only vegetarian in my new dept. It has taken some time to get it through their heads to not be so meat-centric. lol I'll repeat, if someone busted out with a blessing or prayer, I'd fall over.
It's not so much the prayer per se that's "lol" to me. ...it's some of the things they say in said prayer thats "lol". Some of the things people believe is just.. beyond me.

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
Precisely.
So you are in favor of double standards? I think it is GREAT that our new President has real guts. I feel strongly that if some of our corporate heads acted more along the lines of Jesus, they'd be far less likely to take a bonus and run.........................
Originally Posted by angellica
Well, you have to start somewhere! What have you done to report this specific faith-based ritual? If you do not report it, you are just as guilty. Why isn't there going to be a prayer to Allah as well? Why the religious discrimination at the inauguration?
I do not reside in the United States.
Originally Posted by LittleNipper
So you are in favor of double standards? I think it is GREAT that our new President has real guts. I feel strongly that if some of our corporate heads acted more along the lines of Jesus, they'd be far less likely to take a bonus and run.........................
Where have I advocated double standards?


Originally Posted by Nihilismus
Pffffffffft.


I'd go with "Major Corporation Endorses Specific Faith-Based Rituals At Employee Functions".

But I'm no journalist...
Lack of faith never encouraged anyone to invest in anything.........

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
I do not reside in the United States.


Where have I advocated double standards?
You went off about how I should be reported, how the company will go downhill, how I better "watch what I say", how the company was "sponsoring specific faith-based rituals." Yet, when someone pointed out that there is prayer at the inauguration, you suddenly are not bothered by that. There's no outrage. There's no call for everyone there to "report" this NATIONAL CULT!!!!!!! What is the difference?

EDIT: This is in response to the double standard.

Originally Posted by LittleNipper
Lack of faith never encouraged anyone to invest in anything.........
Still waiting on support for your allegations of my "double standards"...

Originally Posted by angellica
You went off about how I should be reported, how the company will go downhill, how I better "watch what I say", how the company was "sponsoring specific faith-based rituals." Yet, when someone pointed out that there is prayer at the inauguration, you suddenly are not bothered by that. There's no outrage. There's no call for everyone there to "report" this NATIONAL CULT!!!!!!! What is the difference?
I said by your company's own standards, you should be reported.

I could care less either way.

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
I said by your company's own standards, you should be reported.

I could care less either way.
What standards? I am pretty sure the VP of the US division knows the standards much better than I do, much less you.

Then why is he conducting prayer at a company function?

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
Then why is he conducting prayer at a company function?
The same reason there is prayer at the inauguration, I guess. I didn't ask him.

You should ask the President of the company whether he approves or not. That would settle the matter.

Originally Posted by Nihilismus
You should ask the President of the company whether he approves or not. That would settle the matter.
So now it is a matter of the president of the company's opinion and not some legal issue that will do harm to our company? Whew!

It was never a legal issue; it was about the company's image.

If the president endorses prayer, that's that...the company would forever be labeled "Christian" though. Not sure if he'd want that or not.
--------------------------------------


So no, it's not obvious which one you're referring to.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Man you're thorough.

 

[morningstar2651]

No wonder you are not a journalist. It wasn't a specific faith. There was no faith mentioned. I hate when people try to spin something harmless into some huge ordeal. Take a chill pill, dude. People in this forum have whined and complained about it so much, but I have yet to hear anyone at work even mention it.

One time, during an interview for a job, I was asked if I go to church. Huge violation of EEO. I said "Occasionally."

Don't bite the hand that feeds you. It's a lot easier to complain when your livelihood isn't on the line.

 

[keith99]

I thought most companies would take visitors out for drinks, or have drinks at a business lunch. Is this not the case? My dad's company had an open bar at their Christmas party.

Those are off site parties. This is an on site potluck. Different animal.

Though booze at any company party is changing and has been for some time. I did contract work at ARCO years ago. I was there right at the change. The old way was 2 parties a year, open bar and contracers were invited. It changed to one party Employees only, at a hotel and ARCO provided yuo with a room. Otherwise the company could be found at fault if you drank too much and crashed.

 

[angellica]

Those are off site parties. This is an on site potluck. Different animal.

Though booze at any company party is changing and has been for some time. I did contract work at ARCO years ago. I was there right at the change. The old way was 2 parties a year, open bar and contracers were invited. It changed to one party Employees only, at a hotel and ARCO provided yuo with a room. Otherwise the company could be found at fault if you drank too much and crashed.

Yeah, our party was off-site as well.

I knew a guy who had too much to drink when he was at some work party and he jumped off the balcony of the hotel and landed on concrete. He couldn't smell since then, but otherwise is fine.

 

[kat69]

I think the atheists in this thread going crazy should be ashamed of themselves. It was a communal prayer, big deal, it wasn't "Oh hey you aren't Christian wth is wrong with you!?".. It was a positive thing, it was co-workers coming together for a meal, and the majority wanted to pray, so anybody who wasn't a Christian obviously rolled with it and decided it was ok with them or they would have spoken up.

I don't see a problem, I see some comraderie and togetherness in a workplace, which is by no means negative. On the atheist side, however, I see alot of freaking out in trying to say everything needs to be politically correct and that what her company did was SUCH A BAD THING when it wasn't.

This is the holiday season, it's supposed to be about coming together. So quit being stupid about how we come together, and just appreciate the fact that we do it at all. Who cares if it's Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Happy Flying Spaghetti Monster Day. PEOPLE ARE WISHING EACHOTHER WELL, AND APPRECIATING THEIR FELLOW MAN! The mechanism in which it is delivered needs to quit being the focus, the message and the thought put into the gesture is what needs to be the focus.

Agreed!

 

[angellica]

One time, during an interview for a job, I was asked if I go to church. Huge violation of EEO. I said "Occasionally."

Don't bite the hand that feeds you. It's a lot easier to complain when your livelihood isn't on the line.

Were they asking because they wanted to know if you were a Christian, or because they wanted to know if you could work Sundays or not?

 

[cantata]

Were they asking because they wanted to know if you were a Christian, or because they wanted to know if you could work Sundays or not?

If the latter, they should have just asked.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Were they asking because they wanted to know if you were a Christian, or because they wanted to know if you could work Sundays or not?

Doesn't matter. When you fill out an application you generally fill out your hours for availability at least in my experience. Your availability is part of why a company hires someone and should have been known before the interview process occurred (again in my experience). And regardless it was a violation of the equal opportunities act or at least toeing the line of it. A better question would have been "are you available to work Sundays" especially since many Christians I know go to church on more days than just Sunday. The question was out of line.

 

[angellica]

Doesn't matter. When you fill out an application you generally fill out your hours for availability at least in my experience. Your availability is part of why a company hires someone and should have been known before the interview process occurred (again in my experience). And regardless it was a violation of the equal opportunities act or at least toeing the line of it. A better question would have been "are you available to work Sundays" especially since many Christians I know go to church on more days than just Sunday. The question was out of line.

I know. I was just wondering why they would ask something that was so obviously un-PC.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

I know. I was just wondering why they would ask something that was so obviously un-PC.

Its not that its "un-pc" is that it toes a dangerously illegal line.

 

[levi501]

I know. I was just wondering why they would ask something that was so obviously un-PC.

...and unethical, and illegal, and backwards thinking, and plain ignorant.

 

[angellica]

Its not that its "un-pc" is that it toes a dangerously illegal line.

Okay.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Religious Discrimination

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment. Title VII covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to the federal government.
Under Title VII:

• Employers may not treat employees or applicants more or less favorably because of their religious beliefs or practices - except to the extent a religious accommodation is warranted. For example, an employer may not refuse to hire individuals of a certain religion, may not impose stricter promotion requirements for persons of a certain religion, and may not impose more or different work requirements on an employee because of that employee's religious beliefs or practices.

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html

Interesting...

 

[angellica]

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html

Interesting...

Didn't you already know that?

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Didn't you already know that?

But of course just sharing it for discussion sake...didn't you already know that?

 

[angellica]

But of course just sharing it for discussion sake...didn't you already know that?

Oh ok.

 

[Skaloop]

Were they asking because they wanted to know if you were a Christian, or because they wanted to know if you could work Sundays or not?

Plenty of Christians work on Sunday, and plenty of non-Christians prefer not to. So it's not a question that gives the answer one is looking for.

 

[angellica]

Plenty of Christians work on Sunday, and plenty of non-Christians prefer not to. So it's not a question that gives the answer one is looking for.

Yeah I know. I wonder why they'd ask that, though. I mean, some things I could understand maybe they didn't understand that you can't ask, but something like that, it's pretty obvious that you're not supposed to ask that kind of stuff at an interview.

 

[cantata]

Yeah I know. I wonder why they'd ask that, though. I mean, some things I could understand maybe they didn't understand that you can't ask, but something like that, it's pretty obvious that you're not supposed to ask that kind of stuff at an interview.

Some people are ignorant.