Religion at work

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SilverLight

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I work part time and one day I was ringing out a mother that was with her children. Before they left the mother handed me a small pamphlet and I realized later that they where jehovah’s witnesses. I’m fine with them being what ever they want but it’s more about what happened. I was given religious information in the work place and as I was on duty I could not really say anything against it. What should I do in these situations? I usually just ignore it and tell my co workers and sometimes we laugh a little at it. I’m not the only one who has been handed stuff like this either. The mother also told me some stuff but it’s not really important.
 
I’d ask your boss what to do. Many businesses have “no solicitation” signs and passing out pamphlets, even to employees, could be considered a violation of that.

(I would guess that your boss would say to just be pleasant to the person and then trash it after they leave. That’s about what I’ve been told to do for any service-related position I have, and it’s also what I do when they come to my door - after I check to make sure they have a legitimate solicitation permit. ;))
 
Honestly, and speaking as someone who worked in customer service her entire working life, it would depend on the person’s manner.

If they were pleasant and nice and seemed to be handing it to me out of a genuine hope/concern for me, I’d smile politely and bin it once they were out the door.

If they were like the…persons…who thought it appropriate to stuff half the books in various sections of my bookstore with Jack Chick tracts, causing us to stay late to do a sweep through each. individual. book. in those sections? I’d notify management promptly so that they could get tossed out, thankyouverymuch.

If they were merely sanctimoniously irritating about it, I’d give them the Ice Queen stare while informing them that I do not discuss religion at my workplace, and yes, they could give me a pamphlet if they really insist, but it’s going to be wasted because I will bin it immediately.
 
UbiCaritas said:
Honestly, and speaking as someone who worked in customer service her entire working life, it would depend on the person’s manner.

If they were pleasant and nice and seemed to be handing it to me out of a genuine hope/concern for me, I’d smile politely and bin it once they were out the door.

If they were like the…persons…who thought it appropriate to stuff half the books in various sections of my bookstore with Jack Chick tracts, causing us to stay late to do a sweep through each. individual. book. in those sections? I’d notify management promptly so that they could get tossed out, thankyouverymuch.

If they were merely sanctimoniously irritating about it, I’d give them the Ice Queen stare while informing them that I do not discuss religion at my workplace, and yes, they could give me a pamphlet if they really insist, but it’s going to be wasted because I will bin it immediately.
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Yeah I just throw it away after they leave.
 
Being as they were a customer, I’d just accept it, smile, and toss it after they are out of eyesight/earshot.
 
Where I live, we have a strict no proselytizing policy. I highly recommend one.
 
I would just smile and thank them and once they were gone, take an opportunity to remind myself how important it is to recycle.
 
I’d give it back to the person and say THANKS BUT NO THANK YOU!!
 
Just ignore it and why were you "ringing out " a mother. Do you mean cashing her out for her purchases?
 
AKDee said:
Being as they were a cubstomer, I’d just accept it, smile, and toss it after they are out of eyesight/earshot.
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Accepting the tracts could be taken as a sign that further contact attempts/literature is welcomed.
 
I work for the county govt, so people are allowed to tell me pretty much whatever they want (including cursing). :rolleyes:

Altho I’ve never been given tracts, I have been asked “Have you been saved?” & “Which church do you go to?” (I live in the South.)

I just smile politely & say, “My job is to listen to YOU. How may I help you?” 🙂
 
We used to take the pamphlets given by Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Pentecostals, etc, and we placed them in the restrooms on sinks.

More often that not, people would end up taking them 🙂
 
SilverLight said:
I work part time and one day I was ringing out a mother that was with her children. Before they left the mother handed me a small pamphlet and I realized later that they where jehovah’s witnesses. I’m fine with them being what ever they want but it’s more about what happened. I was given religious information in the work place and as I was on duty I could not really say anything against it. What should I do in these situations? I usually just ignore it and tell my co workers and sometimes we laugh a little at it. I’m not the only one who has been handed stuff like this either. The mother also told me some stuff but it’s not really important.
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Accept it with no comment and dump it in the nearest trash can the first chance you get. If it is really getting to be a problem, then report it to your supervisor and let them handle it.
 
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