Looking for advice

by PenSue 18 Replies latest jw experiences

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  PenSue

  Hi Everyone,

  I am not a JW but I am a business manager and one of my employees is. I want to be able to understand her better and be able to respect her choices but I struggle with certain issues such as sending Holiday cards to company clients. She won't do so because of her beliefs and the clients cannot be neglected so this of course creates added work to those who are already very busy.

  I am unsure of when to separate religion from business and am confused about why it's ok for her to take the vacation days designated for Christmas, yet she can't cater to the needs of the business.

  I do not ask things of her that fall outside the scope of her position and because of the lengths we go through to provide concierge service for our clients, I find that her religion is an out for her participation.

  I've not demanded anything of her to this point and am curious about how any of you may feel if these circumstances were your own. I would appreciate any advice you can give.

  Thanks much,

  PenSue
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  AlmostAtheist

  When I was still one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I didn't like taking part in holiday stuff for my job, but I would do it. Hang decorations, send cards, whatever. I was a bank teller, so I had to put on a happy face. I never wished anyone a Merry Christmas, and I always answered, "Thank you" when someone wished me one.

  It seems that all JW's draw a different line on this issue. It's hard to say what a specific witness will or won't do in regards to holidays.

  They see the holidays (particularly Christmas) as highly displeasing to God because the trappings of the holidays (trees, wreaths, gifts) are all based in false religious worship. You can read about the Watchtower's views on it at their web site, http://watchtower.org

  There may be a Watchtower article that you could show your employee showing her that she's authorized to do holiday stuff when it's required by her employer. I don't know of one, hopefully someone else does?

  Dave
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  Brummie

  Pen, welcome aboard.

  1st, I think its great that there are managers out there who are as patient as you, you seem to have been very kind towards her. I also had a good manager when I was a JW.

  Its difficult for a JW to know what is acceptable when it comes to Christmas, I refused to even take a Christmas photo for the people I worked with who all stood around a christmas tree and asked me to take the snap, I wouldnt do it. Then we had a Watchtower telling us it was ok for Postmen to post christmas cards through peoples doors, it was ok for a JW who works in a store to sell christmas cards for the company. but it is NOT ok to write them out and send them.

  Since the watchtower dictates to her what she is and is not allowed to do, I think you will have this same problem every christmas. The only way to compensate is to make her do some of the other employees work while they take time out to write out the cards etc.

  All the best

  Brummie
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  undercover

  I understand your dilema, but as either a business owner or a supervisor you must be very careful so as to not create an atmosphere that one could construe as harrassment or religious intorence. If your company has an HR department I suggest checking with them as to what can or cannot be done in this area.

  I'm not defending the JW in this area, it could be a jewish person or an islamic person just as well and asking them to do this goes against their beliefs as well.
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  garybuss

  Why would Holiday cards if they are religious cards be beneficial for business. I think religious card sending is bad business. Am I sure all my clients are religious? Are some clients Jewish? Or agnostic? Or non theist? In my opinion religion and business is a bad mix.
  
  I bet the Witness employee is a good employee. She sounds like she understands business better than you do. If your cards are not religious I bet the Witness will have no problem sending them. If they are religious, you might want to rethink the whole idea. I sense a tone of resentment in your post and my initial reaction is that you are off base. I hope you give the Witness employee some consideration. Her religion is none of your business and if she takes days off and doesn't want to send religious cards she needs some consideration. My .02
  
  
  
  
  
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  Incense_and_Peppermints

  The only way to compensate is to make her do some of the other employees work while they take time out to write out the cards etc.

  excellent idea! this way no one feels resentlful. and maybe send out cards saying "seasons greetings" or "happy holidays" instead of cards with an overly religious theme. i personally would rather get a card like that than a religious one, since i don't go to church or anything...
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  Seeking Knowledge

  In this day & age most businesses do send out "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holiday" cards. I haven't seen a "religious" Christmas card in the business world for awhile. Giving her something else to do will alleviate the problem, if she's a good employee. If all she's being asked to do is stuff the envelopes & mail them, it shouldn't be an issue. She doesn't have to sign them.

  SK
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  gdt

  Hello there. I too have employees and as a Witness do not wish to make out I share the Christmas practice. But it is no more my right to impose my thoughts on others, as for them to impose upon me. So if my employees wanted a break-up Xmas gift-giving party amongst themselves, that is their business. We have worked together with some over 20 years, on this basis, and have respected each others' opinions.
  May I suggest you respect your employees desire not to actively promote a practice seen as hypocritical, I would expect he/she wouldn't dictate to you what to do in this matter. It is intersting to note that you have had responses from former Witnesses, with whom I agree as well. And it is hoped that, for the very few occasions at secular work over the year this would happen (eg Easter too) that the decency, honesty, reliability, hard work, and loyalty would all make up for not signing off your Xmas mail, signature implying approval thereof.

  Xmas is based on a 'mass for Christ' and buried in past traditions which we find untrue and unChristian, so it is a conscience matter behind the issue. May I suggest you just look up Christmas on either the Internet, or any concordance, and you may understand that there is more to it that signing off on a 'Christas greeting'.

  I am sure anyone on this board would help give you such information, but please feel free to pm me if you wish.

  Kind regards,

  Geoff. PS it is nice to see a willingness to understand and be reasonable. Cheers.gdt
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  AK - Jeff

  I just want to say how I appreciated the comments here and the respect shown. WHen I was an active witness, my view of so called 'apostates' was ingrained to be evil - I would never have expected b4 I left that such respect for the rights of witnesses would have been upheld on a forum of this sort - or course I know better now - but just thank all you good apostates for being so honest and decent in matters like this -

  Jeff
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  Sassy

  When I was a witness and my boss sent out Christmas cards, I did it for him. It is true I didn't like it, since I didn't celebrate the holidays, but it was done for him, not for me so I did my job. I also hung up the Christmas cards that came into the office for him or the department. I did not however put up Christmas decorations. Usually there were others that really enjoyed it and wanted to do that any way.