Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:18 pm Post subject: Rosh Hashanah Greeting at work
Someone at the company i worked for emailed a group of jews with her happy new year wishes. Which triggered others to respond with their good wishes. The head of HR (who is jewish) was on the list and ask the initiator to not send out group e-mails like this as she feels that no one needs to know who is what religion. She also wasn't comfortable that receivers of the email then sent out their own group wish as well.
Is this right? Is HR being too PC? If this was an xmas list, would you feel differently.
I'm surprised by this. But i'm sure they can legally do this.
Some people may not be comfortable that their jewishness is being broadcast. So for them use a BCC, so the list isn't broadcast. But for people who are open with their jewishness (kipas etc) it may be a nice way to get people together...
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:50 pm Post subject: religion in the workplace
some workplaces go to one extreme - hiring catholic ministers to act as emotional counselors for employees, some go to other and do not want any mention of religion in the workplace. I prefer the latter. a simple e card may not seem like a big deal but remember that any email at work is the property of the company and they can restrict as they see fit. there are as many reactions to religion as there are people in this world. some people observe and talk, some people just observe, some people just talk, some people do none of the above. as a jewish hr director in a small company with few jews and no other observant jews, i note how some happily initiate conversation about rosh hashanah, even while they do not take the day off or eat whatever they want for lunch, and some refuse any mention. and anything in between. it's always safer to assume that noone wants to talk about religion at work unless specifically known otherwise.
a simple e card may not seem like a big deal but remember that any email at work is the property of the company and they can restrict as they see fit.
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If you are going to e-mail some friends and/or colleagues, do it from a 'Personal' address. First and foremost, is the reason mentioned above, secondly is the fact that you may not want your boss to think that you are surfing and adding e-cards while you should be hard at work (especially if you plan on taking off a couple of days for the holidays).
Additionally, if you include clients or outside contacts in that e-mail, if you send it from Work, it has the bearing of an 'official' e-mail, which sends messages that your bosses might not want to convey.
I once got in trouble for sending a letter to the editor from my work address, even though I didn't use my company's name, it still conveys a sense of 'officiality' (is that a word?).
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