Workplace Calistenics: Workplace not appropriate site for proselytizing

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"In the name that is above all other names, Jesus the Christ. Let all who agree say amen."|ret||ret||tab|

As a follower of Christ, I was uncomfortable with the benediction offered by Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell at the inauguration of George W. Bush. |ret||ret||tab|

I could agree with the words, but it was the wrong place and time for this exclusionary, ecclesiastical fence line to be erected in what should be a Super Glue moment for our nation. |ret||ret||tab|

"Jesus" nudged a lot of people off that platform.|ret||ret||tab|

The issue here is not whether "Jesus" won (along with George W.); rather, the issue is whether the nation lost.|ret||ret||tab|

Let's move the discussion, though, past the nation to your organization. I'm using this inaugural prayer as an entre to the issue of religiosity in our workplaces.|ret||ret||tab|

Here's my point. For those of you, like me, who are at ease with Jesus, what if we elect a president in the future who is a Muslim who decides to end the prayer at his/her inauguration with, "... in the name of Allah"? |ret||ret||tab|

What if this person is an agnostic and ends his/her speech with "... and, my fellow Americans, may whoever or whatever bless America"?|ret||ret||tab|

The very nature of faith is personal and often exclusionary. Faith often means you have found the "truth," and those who cannot or will not accept this truth are "outside the fold." But the genius of this nation is pluralism. |ret||ret||tab|

The United States of America was never designed by our founding fathers (many of whom were deists, owned slaves and whose lifestyle would make Bill Clinton blush) as a Christian nation. |ret||ret||tab|

The plan was that all men (and women) are equal. This tolerance of plurality of people standing under the same flag was our uniqueness and appeal in an 18th century world.|ret||ret||tab|

The same should be true of our workplaces. When someone works for a regular paycheck, he/she should be free of constraints of religious intolerance. What does this mean for your organization?|ret||ret||tab|

First, senior management or people with power do not have the right to actively proselytize those who work under them. Legally this is a form of harassment. This is especially true if there are repeated attempts to win converts which result in either positive or negative work assignments and/or evaluations.|ret||ret||tab|

Does this mean we cannot, in the normal course of conversation, talk about our spiritual life at work? Obviously not. |ret||ret||tab|

But, if you pressure me to accept your belief system and that pressure does determine my job security, then it is a form of harassment.|ret||ret||tab|

Second, is there a variety of spiritual expression in organizational meetings? An organization does have the right to decide if grace will be said before a meal. Are there Jews in the work force who have never heard Yahweh invoked? |ret||ret||tab|

Are there Buddhist believers clocking in each day? Does it not seem fair that an invocation dropping the name of Quan Yin make it into the microphone at least once?|ret||ret||tab|

If there is just one spiritual party line at all organizational functions, there is an unstated message to people who do not share the majority faith: "You are on the outside here."|ret||ret||tab|

Finally, expressions of personal faith will always come to work, but never at the expense of productivity.|ret||ret||tab|

Whether it is reading one's Bible during lunch, bowing to the East during break times or repeating verses from the Torah before the 8 a.m. beginning bell, these demonstrations of faith should never be on the clock. |ret||ret||tab|

I take my faith with me to work every day. I do not turn on and turn off my spiritual commitments depending on where the big and little hands are on my watch. |ret||ret||tab|

But, I do not have the right to indulge my spirituality at the expense of my clients. That's stealing, and I think God did have something to say about that.|ret||ret||tab|

The older I get, the more I realize how little I know about the Deity. I am captivated by the love, acceptance and life I have received in my faith. |ret||ret||tab|

I think I know a little something about Jesus, and I am convinced he may be disappointed. I will let Him speak, "... my kingdom is not of this world (this nation, this company, this organization) ... my kingdom is within you."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Dr. Cal LeMon solves organizational problems with customized training and consulting through his company, The Executive Edge He can be contacted via the Business Journal at sbj@sbj.net.)|ret||ret||tab|

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