hola

sales consultant

New manager talks religion

So my new head of sales started and did a meet me meeting to introduce himself to the team.

The first thing he does is mention how Jesus is his Lord and Savior and has written three bible quotes on a slide. He talks about how he owes Jesus everything, and how he guides him in his life.

I am ok with his beliefs, but is it appropriate to be the first thing you share with your new team?

I personally believe this is just something you do not discuss at work and is completely unrelated to work. We also have a diverse group of people working under him (Muslim, Hindu, etc)

I want people's opinions on whether this is okay or not, so please educate me on the matter.

I myself am an atheist.

🧠 Advice

😳 Ethics

🏋️‍♀️ Leadership

38 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

This is not appropriate AT ALL.

Personal beliefs are just that - personal. And they should stay that way.

There is absolutely no place for anything that could come close to proselytizing in the workplace, ESPECIALLY from leadership.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

☠

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

You work at Chick-fil-A?

Mobi85

Politicker

Regional Sales Manager

It was my pleasure to read this comment...only time I hate Chick-Fil-A is on Sunday when I am nursing a hangover and need a nice chicken biscuit.

BitcoinAddict

Executive

McDonalds is better for a hangover biscuit, ChickFila for a normal day biscuit.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Things I don't quite care to know about any human that is not my blood:

Your religious beliefs
Your political ideations
Your sexual preferences

Those are all important guideposts to you and you alone, I do not tangibly benefit from knowing because I am not going to try to offend on befriend you by leveraging any of them.

If you're a good person, you're a good person. Let's leave the personal dogma at the door.

punishedlad

Tycoon

Regional Partnership Manager

Unless your company has an explicitly Christian mission statement, this is pretty whack. (and I'm a practicing Catholic)

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Where is HR in all of this? It's not appropriate.

hola

Valued Contributor

sales consultant

hR was in the meeting....

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Is there a way for you and your colleagues to lodge a formal complaint? The goal would be to keep any work meetings completely neutral.

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

Very inappropriate.

Mobi85

Politicker

Regional Sales Manager

Just had a similar topic of discussion earlier today, we were discussing the movie Major League and how we felt that Jesus Christ couldn't hit a curveball. That is about as far as I feel a topic of religion should go in the workplace.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Anyone that's worked in a professional environment in the last 20 years knows this isn't okay unless you're working for a religious based entity.

And the replies here reflect that.

Uh, talk to their boss and let them know the situation? Did you tell your boss that's not okay?

hola

Valued Contributor

sales consultant

this is the new cro and HR was on the call as well as old VP of sales

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Does the company advertise as a religious organization?

I've never heard of a company doing this with HR present lol.

Something smells fishy.

hola

Valued Contributor

sales consultant

No we are not a religious company. Any suggestions on what to do?

the guy hasnt done anything since then, but i also have not talked to him again since.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Quit if it's going to make you uncomfortable?

Talk to president/CEO/whoever's over your boss about how it makes you uncomfortable?

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Does the other leadership share his beliefs? No way did he not bring up his faith in the hiring process if he is this upfront with his direct reports.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

There's a time and a place for sharing your beliefs. Unfortunately, many people view anywhere, as that time and place. The intent is good, but one must throw some common sense into the equation because most people do not care about your beliefs,whether it be political, spiritual, or sexual. To have those beliefs shoved in your face, especially in the workplace, will have the opposite effect of what the speaker intended.

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Totally agree.

BTQ

Politicker

Fractional SDR

At least he was saying HE believes christ guides him and while he was definitely preaching he hopefully wasn't trying to push his religion on you guys.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

This is 200% not okay and bring a lot of differences in the near future.

ChumpChange

Politicker

Channel Manager

Oh hell nah... religion and politics are a no-fly zone for team dynamics. I would immediately report them to get ahead of the curve. This isn't bible study.

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Perhaps, he just went so well at his work and life unbelievably and unexpectedly from his POV and may think that he doesn't deserve all of it without the help of his God.

I still don't recommend that the religious beliefs to be discussed at the workplace though ,but ONLY if it's a ONE Time thing during an introductory session about himself at the first meeting I guess it could be tolerated!

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

ummm no this is a terrible idea 🤣 a whole deck about it too???? ughhh

if there was some reason for me to believe that you and I had the same religious beliefs, then maybe i would bring it up.....but NOT during our fist conversation.

This seem insane and a huge red flag.

I get WHY he is doing this but in todays world, its more likely that talking about religion will make it harder to connect with ppl, not easier.

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

You never bring up religion or politics at work, especially in front of customers. In the end you will always offend someone else. Believe what you want to believe and think what you want to think. But keep it to yourself.

WheelofCheese

Opinionated

Sales Executive

Not appropriate. Years ago during an interview the “boss” spent most of the conversation talking about his faith and then asked about mine. He also asked where I attended church. I was completely put off. Not sure how someone’s religion/faith applies to any position unless you’re going into the ministry (tongue and cheek). To each their own, but I find it completely inappropriate. Side bar.. if this was an attempt to find out if you’re a moral/ethical human, some of the biggest “sinners” I’ve ever met were Bible thumpers. Makes no difference.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

This is weird AF, I wouldn't be comfortable with it regardless of my own beliefs.

Favoritism always follows these weird personal overshares.

MeowMeow

Politicker

Director of Sales

I would have burnt the place down. Mainly because the sheer idiocy of that and well good old JC would likely caused me to spontaneously combust. Not appropriate at all but at least you know out of the gate where your new boss stands. I’d make it known to HR if the topic comes up again.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Yeah you can have small talk about basically anything. But this is not small talk because it's way to thick

BitcoinAddict

Executive

OP, are you in the south?

FoodForSales

Politicker

Its ok for a first meeting and important to know if you're going to be working with this person. But if he brings it up every meeting, you need to talk to HR. Its akin to talking about literally anything else important to someone's life. Too much isn't always a good thing.

But don't forget to give it the respect it deserves since he could take it discriminations from you if you're too outspoken about it.

salesfromthesouth

Executive

Strategic Account Executive

This is not okay. These first introductions are designed to allow leadership to give a personal history and how they developed their own mission statements. That said, there are ways to offer the very same message in a more inclusive way. This shows a lack of awareness to me. Red flag.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

Director Sales and Market Development

To each their own, but leave it at home

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

Personally I really like talking to people about religion. I’ll often start a conversation with co-workers about religion, HOWEVER, I 1) pay attention to how it’s making the other person feel and if they look at all uncomfortable or uninterested, I’ll change the subject 2) am respectful of others beliefs and opinions. I’ll share with them things I’ve learned from the Bible that have had an impact on me but I will never force my beliefs on another or they’ll them their beliefs are wrong.

cw95

Politicker

Head of SDR

You do you!

champchamp

Arsonist

-1

Certified Savage

I think it depends on how he said it. If he just mentioned it and briefly talked about it, I think it is completely fine.

Companies supposedly want us to be ourselves in our work environment and if his religious beliefs are part of his personality, I think it is okay.

However, if he was passive-aggressive about it, tried to push it into others, or turned his intro into a heavy, religious sermon, then I think it is out of place.

salessniper

-1

Specialty Sales Manager

1. He was vulnerable with you. He didn’t ask anyone to pray or follow his way of life. 2. He was sharing something deeply personal. If that offends you, you’ve got real issues. 3. Leaders that have high moral standards and values are usually a good thing. It probably wasn’t a great thing to lead with, but at least you know what is guiding his life.