Okay......what is the deal?

[live4christp1]

Are these chaplains on company payroll? That just seems weird, unless as a previous poster said, you were working at a hospital or hospice, where there would normally be chaplains. What if you were a completely different faith, or not religious at all? What would the reaction be if someone simply told the chaplain they felt religious beleifs weren't a subject for discussion at work, and that they held their beliefs privately?

I don't know exactly how it works. They don't get a pay check from the company (as an individual) but the company pays a fee to whatever the service is.....I guess I am trying to say they are sort of like contract employees....but then I still don't think I am explaining it quiet right.

There are chaplins from all different denominations of faith that come.....they are not all just one specific denomination.

 

[live4christp1]

I think they are kind of limited to what they can say. They mostly just come around and ask how everyone is doing. If you don't want to talk to them you don't have to. The employee has to initiate any spiritual discussion, though I have had them ask if there is anything they could pray about with me. They try to find help for employees if they are struggling with finances, relationships, terminal illness in the family, etc. A couple of them even went to visit my mom when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and came to the funeral home as well. I think that they just want the employees know that the company cares.

 

[java]

I think that they just want the employees know that the company cares.

enough to hire people to care so they don't have to deal with it

Personally it wouldn't really matter to me. But I can't see that flying around here. People would be offended.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know exactly how it works. They don't get a pay check from the company (as an individual) but the company pays a fee to whatever the service is.....I guess I am trying to say they are sort of like contract employees....but then I still don't think I am explaining it quiet right.

There are chaplins from all different denominations of faith that come.....they are not all just one specific denomination.

I think they are kind of limited to what they can say. They mostly just come around and ask how everyone is doing. If you don't want to talk to them you don't have to. The employee has to initiate any spiritual discussion, though I have had them ask if there is anything they could pray about with me. They try to find help for employees if they are struggling with finances, relationships, terminal illness in the family, etc. A couple of them even went to visit my mom when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and came to the funeral home as well. I think that they just want the employees know that the company cares.

It sounds almost like some sort of employee advocate or social services system...still very odd to me that they would be chaplains rather than a non-religious affiliated social worker. As long as they aren't pushing a belief system on anyone, and participation wasn't an employment requirement I don't see any harm in offering the services...but still not particularly appropriate or professional, IMO, to have a religious affiliation type thing in the workplace. Unless of course, the workplace is by its very nature religiously affiliated, like a religiously based hospital, church management, etc.

 

[Conkozan]

Is this a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA company??
.

And as a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA company- they have the freedom to do this. They can hire who they like, run their business they way they like

As long as they take no government money, the govt. cannot TELL them how to run their business.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws prohibit specific types of job discrimination in certain workplaces.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/discrimination/index.htm

 

[Mickey's Minion]

And as a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA company- they have the freedom to do this. They can hire who they like, run their business they way they like

As long as they take no government money, the govt. cannot TELL them how to run their business.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws prohibit specific types of job discrimination in certain workplaces.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/discrimination/index.htm

Not True.

I believe Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers discrimination, including religious, in all work places, not just Federal employees or ones that take government money. The certain workplaces are for any company that employs 15 or more people.

http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_laws.html

 

[joyjoy]

Perhaps you should stop sleeping around, killing people and skipping mass so much and maybe they wouldn't feel obligated to spend so much time with you.

J/k I've never heard of this outside of a Catholic hospital, but hey. Whatever makes 'em happy.

 

[PaddingtonBear]

If the company wants to show me they care they can send me a fruit basket on the anniversary of my hire date. Otherwise stay the heck out of my personal life. I'm a passionate Christian, but that doesn't mean my employer has any business getting into my business. If I wanted to live in a society that pressured its members - implicitly or explicity- to participate in the dominat religion and enforce this through business practices, I'd convert to Islam and move to Saudi Arabia. Until then I expect my employers to keep thier nose out of my spiritual life.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

And as a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA company- they have the freedom to do this. They can hire who they like, run their business they way they like

As long as they take no government money, the govt. cannot TELL them how to run their business.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws prohibit specific types of job discrimination in certain workplaces.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/discrimination/index.htm

My comment was in response to a statement about a manufacturing company only hiring Christians. Unless it was a Christian school not hiring non-Christian teachers, I have my doubts that it's legal. I highly doubt that "as a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA company they have the freedom to do this" as if that's what makes it acceptable..."this is America" and therefore "freedom" allows this sort of discrimination.

I wasn't referring to the OP's company having religious people come in and roaming around and talking to employees. In that case, I guess the company can do it, altho personally I'd find it extremely odd, invasive and uncomfortable, and personally, I'd never work there. But that would be their choice and my choice.

If the company wants to show me they care they can send me a fruit basket on the anniversary of my hire date. Otherwise stay the heck out of my personal life. I'm a passionate Christian, but that doesn't mean my employer has any business getting into my business. If I wanted to live in a society that pressured its members - implicitly or explicity- to participate in the dominat religion and enforce this through business practices, I'd convert to Islam and move to Saudi Arabia. Until then I expect my employers to keep thier nose out of my spiritual life.

 

[HM]

I also find this very weird. Most companies really want their workforce to be productive during their work hours. Taking time out to talk with a spiritual counselor when you haven't requested one, seems like a lot of wasted time. And to have three different ones come by on the same day? What's up with that?

If I were you, I'd just let each one of them know that I will ask for them if the need arises, but that you just want to get your work done without interuption each day/week. Hopefully they will cross your office off their route until asked (which I take would be never...since you have your own pastor at church).

BTW, how many people work at your company?

 

[live4christp1]

I also find this very weird. Most companies really want their workforce to be productive during their work hours. Taking time out to talk with a spiritual counselor when you haven't requested one, seems like a lot of wasted time. And to have three different ones come by on the same day? What's up with that?

If I were you, I'd just let each one of them know that I will ask for them if the need arises, but that you just want to get your work done without interuption each day/week. Hopefully they will cross your office off their route until asked (which I take would be never...since you have your own pastor at church).

BTW, how many people work at your company?

Company wide 47,000+. At our complex (which covers several different plants, freezer, & shops I'd say 2000+. We were the largest poultry producer in the U.S. before filing reorganization bankruptcy last year....since then they have closed or idled several locations so I'm not quiet sure what the standing order is now.

 

[VickiVM]

I would offer up that Tennessee is one of the most hard hit states during this recession. A processing plant likely hires many employees that are mid to lower socio-economic status - those that are struggling right now. Perhaps the owner felt they could not offer wage increases, bonuses, etc, but felt compelled at the very least to offer up support in the way of chaplain services. Who knows, maybe those that have taken advantage of this kind of support also gets helpful info regarding social services available.

It may be just a simple measure of outreach and not a Tent Revival movement.