workplace stepping on my religious freedom?

[Nicholas Cid]

My Job is doing store team meetings on sunday's from 7-9am. these STM are mandatory, but I dont like going to work before I goto church because it makes me feel as though I'm saying my job is more important than spending my time Fellowshiping with other Christians and Worshiping God. It makes me feel uncomfortable. so this is what my schedule is for sunday's that include the STM: 7-9am=work 9-12am=church 3pm-9:30pm=work. I usually like going to the early service which starts at 9, but usually when it comes to these meetings they dont really end at 9. is my workplace stepping on my religious freedom? because I like to put God 1st on sundays instead of work.

 

[Mike]

This business has the right to run their enterprise the way they see fit, and you have the right to quit and work for a business that agrees with your priorities. Unless they are breaking the law or forcing you to break the law (and you're not forced to work there), you have no legitimate right to make them conform to your beliefs.

If you feel that strongly about it, quit, find another job, and start your own push for a "blue law" that prohibits businesses to operate on Sunday mornings in your city or state. That's not a battle I'd fight, but you're free to fight it.

 

[Pizzaguy]

... I dont like going to work before I goto church because it makes me feel as though I'm saying my job is more important than spending my time Fellowshiping with other Christians and Worshiping God.

But you aren't saying that, they are. You are only doing what you need to do to stay employed.

You are just fine.

 

[reba]

My Job is doing store team meetings on sunday's from 7-9am. these STM are mandatory, but I dont like going to work before I goto church because it makes me feel as though I'm saying my job is more important than spending my time Fellowshiping with other Christians and Worshiping God. It makes me feel uncomfortable. so this is what my schedule is for sunday's that include the STM: 7-9am=work 9-12am=church 3pm-9:30pm=work. I usually like going to the early service which starts at 9, but usually when it comes to these meetings they dont really end at 9. is my workplace stepping on my religious freedom? because I like to put God 1st on sundays instead of work.

Saturday is as much before Sunday Church as 7- 9 Sundday morning is.

 

[Jman96]

This business has the right to run their enterprise the way they see fit, and you have the right to quit and work for a business that agrees with your priorities. Unless they are breaking the law or forcing you to break the law (and you're not forced to work there), you have no legitimate right to make them conform to your beliefs.

If you feel that strongly about it, quit, find another job, and start your own push for a "blue law" that prohibits businesses to operate on Sunday mornings in your city or state. That's not a battle I'd fight, but you're free to fight it.

Valid point, yet if possible before quitting ( if it was to come to that) could you try to talk to your boss? I don't know your situation but maybe the Lord will do something amazing if you explain the problem here. Just an idea.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Why do I get the feeling this business is run by a bunch of lost generation x'ers taking after their hippy parents the boomers?

Don't expect them to stand for anything except their own little flimsy world.
As mentioned, you can talk to the boss. But after getting more success by talking with the wall, your next step is to take legal action because (thankfully) a business has to accommodate a person's sabbath according to law.

If they find a legal loophole and force you into it, then quit. Just quit outright as the Lord will take care of you. Then watch in glee later on when for their sins and ways their business will utterly fail a few years from now and your boss is on the street. Pass and look the other way, then. That's sometimes how God works to get the attention, but don't expect them to "get it" even then. That's how this crooked generation is. In that case, make friends with a brick wall. :biglol

 

[handy]

Tim, what law is that? I've worked in three different states and there wasn't any law that I ever knew of that said an employer couldn't call an employee in on Sunday morning. Even when I worked for a church day-care, they had no problem making me work on Sunday... they would often schedule things like the pre-school Christmas program or graduation on Sunday evening and as the assistant director, it was mandatory for me to be there.

Nicholas, I would talk to the boss and ask him if it would be OK for you to slip out of the meeting 10 minutes early so that you can go to church. If you ask respectfully and promise to make sure to apprise yourself of anything you might have missed in the last few minutes of the meeting, the boss most likely will accommodate you.

However, you mention that you like to go to the "early" service at 9:00 which sounds as if your church has a later service. If this is the case, then your employer really isn't preventing you from fellowship and worship...just interfering with your "preference".

Perhaps you might want to think through the idea that perhaps God wishes you at the later service for some reason...just a thought.

But, I don't see the harm in simply asking if you can leave 10 minutes early, especially if you explain the reason and promise you'll keep yourself informed of any important bullet points made after you leave. The most your employer will do is say no... in which case, you can just continue on as you're doing...the Lord certainly understands and would wish you to be an exemplar employee and therefore a good witness for Him in your workplace.

 

[handy]

hmmm, the things one can learn by taking part in this forum...

Tim, don't bother answer my question above... I google, therefore I know.

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964, employers must reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely held religious practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employer.

Allowing an employee to leave a staff meeting a few minutes early sounds like a very reasonable accommodation.

Nicholas, I would definitely ask your boss to be able to leave about 10 minutes early on Sunday morning so that you can make it to church.




DEFINITIONS
SEC. 2000e. [Section 701]
(j) The term “religion†includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee’s or prospective employee’s religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business.
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm

 

[felix]

My Job is doing store team meetings on sunday's from 7-9am. these STM are mandatory, but I dont like going to work before I goto church because it makes me feel as though I'm saying my job is more important than spending my time Fellowshiping with other Christians and Worshiping God. It makes me feel uncomfortable. so this is what my schedule is for sunday's that include the STM: 7-9am=work 9-12am=church 3pm-9:30pm=work. I usually like going to the early service which starts at 9, but usually when it comes to these meetings they dont really end at 9. is my workplace stepping on my religious freedom? because I like to put God 1st on sundays instead of work.

Skipping church and going to work doesn't mean you are not putting God first. Putting God first is about obeying His commandments not attending a Sunday service on a church. That said, having good fellowship with Christians and worshiping God is also not just on Sundays but extends through out the week and throughout your life.

Taking your religious freedom depends on your work. World doesn't cease to exist on Sundays. Every Sunday, someone has to work to give electricity to Churches, some bus driver has to work to take church members to church, some police is protecting on Sundays and making the church a safe place from thieves and yet some shopkeepers and restaurant owners open their shops giving food for single members in church.

 

[Mike]

I see Nicholas' question presenting a bigger question about what we should expect from "the world" in accommodating our priorities from a Christian perspective. I'm a free-market capitalist who sees value in government getting out of the way and allowing business to prosper or flounder based on its own ability to service the needs and wants of its customers. I have to be consistent in this. I can't say "Hands off, big government!" while demanding that they conduct their business with limitations I put on them as a Christian.

Indeed, I would ask for flexibility, but I've responded with the assumption that you've already had that conversation. This could be an easy flex of your hours. But they can decide if it is a better business decision to accommodate your request or not. Will the decision to be a good citizen in their community result in them more effectively meeting their goals by building rapport among it? If they choose not to, you have to decide if this is important enough to part ways with them.

 

[jasoncran]

on a related note... if i as a soldier want to go to chapel it has to be resonably accodomated and NOT interfere with the war time missions or peace time training. their are days when i couldnt go to chapel.

 

[ivorhughjarse]

Why do I get the feeling this business is run by a bunch of lost generation x'ers taking after their hippy parents the boomers?

Don't expect them to stand for anything except their own little flimsy world.
As mentioned, you can talk to the boss. But after getting more success by talking with the wall, your next step is to take legal action because (thankfully) a business has to accommodate a person's sabbath according to law.

If they find a legal loophole and force you into it, then quit. Just quit outright as the Lord will take care of you. Then watch in glee later on when for their sins and ways their business will utterly fail a few years from now and your boss is on the street. Pass and look the other way, then. That's sometimes how God works to get the attention, but don't expect them to "get it" even then. That's how this crooked generation is. In that case, make friends with a brick wall. :biglol

that must be one of the worst advice posts i've read, apart from the "stop taking your medicine posts"....a prophet is known by his prophecies coming true and if they don't come true then he is by reason a false prophet.

 

[Jman96]

that must be one of the worst advice posts i've read, apart from the "stop taking your medicine posts"....a prophet is known by his prophecies coming true and if they don't come true then he is by reason a false prophet.

Let's NOT turn this into a criticizing thread, please?

 

[ivorhughjarse]

So many people blame God for their lives because of advice from others have lead them down an unhelpful path..I know of one girl who took her own life because what she had been told did not happen and the minister blamed her lack of faith not his bad advice.

Telling someone to quit their job can lead to a tragic outcome a year down the line. If jobs are in abundance then there is no problem but if not then we need to be sure that these big decisions are a word from God

 

[Nicholas Cid]

I decided to skip the meeting and goto church, I got a better lesson out of it and didnt get in trouble at work for skipping the meeting. I also learned alot from the service and the mens class. I was happy that I skipped the meeting, but this is my 1st time I think I skipped a meeting in the 4yrs ive been working there. however I really should talk to my boss about them changing the time of the meetings. Thank you all for your advice and help. ;)