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I'll take "Most awkward and inappropriate questions from the first day at a new job" for $1,000, Alex!
I kid you not. I'd spent the morning filling out forms, and the first half of the afternoon on a video conference call with other new hires. I was in my new cube getting things set up around 3pm and the nice 55-ish lady I'd been introduced to earlier pops in. She hems and haws for a moment, noting its a difficult question, then comes out with it. "Do you have any objections to discussions about Christ? Because sometimes there will be some."
WTF?
I thought quickly about how to position myself in the DMZ zone with my response. I didn't want to seem too shocked, lest I be tagged forever as that new Heathen girl who sits next to Marvin. But I also didn't want to seem too happy about it, lest I get I get invited to every prayer circle and everyone's church and Sunday school class. I think I landed nicely in the middle with "Well, I won't participate, but I have no problem with what people do on their own." She seemed happy with that answer and as she was leaving, said "you just never know these days."
Again, WTF?
This is a private company, 2,000 employees, HQ in the midwest, with our department having a great deal to do with risk and liability for businesses (irony much?). Oh, and . . . Wait for it . . . She's a supervisor (not mine).
I mean, I know it's the South, the Bible Belt and all, but come on. It's also almost 2014. I'm guessing someone must have complained in the past. And rather than tone down what is pretty inappropriate anyway, her choice is to double down and weed out the troublemakers on day one? Geesh. I know I can report it, etc., but I plan to stay here for at least a few years. Once I've been here for 6 months or so and am one of the gang, and have seen whatever "Christ talk" apparently transpires, I plan to mention to her that she might reconsider her approach, as the approach itself could be deemed offensive.
I'll take "Most awkward and inappropriate questions from the first day at a new job" for $1,000, Alex!
I kid you not. I'd spent the morning filling out forms, and the first half of the afternoon on a video conference call with other new hires. I was in my new cube getting things set up around 3pm and the nice 55-ish lady I'd been introduced to earlier pops in. She hems and haws for a moment, noting its a difficult question, then comes out with it. "Do you have any objections to discussions about Christ? Because sometimes there will be some."
WTF?
I thought quickly about how to position myself in the DMZ zone with my response. I didn't want to seem too shocked, lest I be tagged forever as that new Heathen girl who sits next to Marvin. But I also didn't want to seem too happy about it, lest I get I get invited to every prayer circle and everyone's church and Sunday school class. I think I landed nicely in the middle with "Well, I won't participate, but I have no problem with what people do on their own." She seemed happy with that answer and as she was leaving, said "you just never know these days."
Again, WTF?
This is a private company, 2,000 employees, HQ in the midwest, with our department having a great deal to do with risk and liability for businesses (irony much?). Oh, and . . . Wait for it . . . She's a supervisor (not mine).
I mean, I know it's the South, the Bible Belt and all, but come on. It's also almost 2014. I'm guessing someone must have complained in the past. And rather than tone down what is pretty inappropriate anyway, her choice is to double down and weed out the troublemakers on day one? Geesh. I know I can report it, etc., but I plan to stay here for at least a few years. Once I've been here for 6 months or so and am one of the gang, and have seen whatever "Christ talk" apparently transpires, I plan to mention to her that she might reconsider her approach, as the approach itself could be deemed offensive.
Anyway, how was everyone else's day?
I live in the South and am not at all shocked about this, as I have had religion mentioned in multiple job interviews and work environments before...
I had a similar situation when I had a job between college and graduate school in the public sector. We had an employee development day and they had a bunch of information sessions we had to sit in on. A class I chose to sit in on was on preparing for retirement. The woman giving the presentation went on a rant for half an hour about tithing, christ and following his plan for your life. I live in Texas and have seen a whole spectrum of attitudes towards religion and all I can say is I would never assume anything. I would say as little as possible about religion and only be on the offense as a last resort.
It's not that deep. Tell her you're not interested and move on. You're over thinking it. If it happens again or if you feel bothered, report it. By the way, is this a religious based company? Have you looked at the company's mission statement?
No, not a Christian/religious-based company. And I've been in the South working, living and breathing for 20+ years, so I understand how religion permeates everyday life here. I think I was just taken aback by the approach on day one. By the idea of a supervisor putting a new hire on the spot about something like that. THAT part is new to me. I'm thinking of hanging a mezuzah on the door to my cube
Wow, that is odd. I guess you just have to be as indiscriminate as possible and try to block out those conversations that make you feel comfortable. Just remain neutral; don't let them pick up any strange vibes from you. Otherwise, you might make it to the top of their hit list.
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