NO POWERPOINT!
So I'm all smiley and happy at the end, and have a few thoughts about what to do next with a situation at work. Everyone is packing up their bags. I put the presenter's business card in my bag. I'm telling the other people at my table that it's been nice to meet them. I decide to sign up for the presenter's weekly e-mail. It's all good.
...and then the presenter's final words to us are "God bless you."
Nobody had sneezed.
So... I'm totally offended like, why end a good session with an insipid Christian sentiment? I could complain to our HR department guy who runs these things, or send an e-mail to the presenter, or I could keep quiet about it. It was just the one line when half the room wasn't really paying attention anymore, but it was uncalled-for and irrelevant to the session. Any thoughts?
9 comments:
Honestly, just let it slide. You really have to pick your battles wisely.
Otherwise you just end up looking like an asshole haha.
It is irritating for sure. But I also would let it pass and not waste too much time thinking about it just for my own sake. Although coming here and stating it is good. It raises the level of awareness. You know a priest would tell sinners to say a few dozen hail, marys. I am your priest today. Say a few dozen "Suck It, Jesus" 's today and be well.
Will do!
... and I might grumble a little more today than other days
I kind of agree with Shreddakj.. pick your battles. It's probably the guy's personal viewpoint. If he had asked everyone to bow their heads for in invocation, I would have beaned him.
As an atheist you should have no problem with someone stating a greeting based on his view point. We only object when they try to shovel their BS up our arse and down our throat.
Be Happy that he acknowledged you with a smile and greeting instead of reminding you that you are going to hell to be with Hitch!!!...Yah!
Definitely let this go! If I had to argue every time I heard someone say God bless you to me It would consume my entire life. It happens everywhere you just have to grin and bear it.
I just resented it because it was the bully pulpit issue - taking advantage of an audience to send a Christian message in a non-Christian situation
This is about as offensive as concluding with: oh, and I am single.
It does bring his professionalism and personal agenda (and therefore credibility) into question. He abused the opportunity. But he did so in a trivial way.
You'd be right to notify HR. Whether you reveal that it made you uncomfortable, you think it made someone else uncomfortable or just that he'd been willing to abuse the situation... you'd definitely want to treat it as not quite trivial. HR is all about CYA. Even if they disagree they're likely to react in accordance with company policy and statutory requirements.
Even anonymously a hint of impropriety is likely to be as effective as meltdown. Don't let it be about godyes vs godno. It's all about what is appropriate, comfortable and non-hostile in the workplace.
But unless you're a manager you're under no obligation for such a mostly trivial offense, as long as you can live with the foreseeable consequences.
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