My retort to him would be, "the term 'God bless' does not belong exclusively to Christians. I don't know, nor do I care to know, what version of God you believe in. I do, however, care that in business communications, you represent our company, and our company chooses to communicate with clients without using religious references. This is not a faith-based business... this is not a church, mosque or synagogue. If you are allowed to sign off with 'God Bless,' and a Satanist wanted to sign off with 'Satan Bless,' we would have to allow that as well. Our official company sign-offs are 'Sincerely,' and 'Best Regards.' We are your employer, and we have every right to manage how you communicate. The phone must be answered a certain way, and letters must be signed certain ways so that we have a consistent identity with our clients, rather than each company representative's personal style."

I would completely avoid saying anything about "today's hypersensitive PC environment." That's the argument Christians use.

It's unprofessional. The company should have an employee manual that talks about religious statements, etc.

I worked in a retail environment and frequently customers would close with Merry Christmas. I would respond "have a good holiday season". (In retail December is the holiday season) On occasion people would become offensive that I wouldn't say Christmas. I would explain that there are other faiths-including none that shop here. There was an absolute belligerence that I wouldn't impose a specific closing on all customers.

I drove by a manufacturing plant today that might be a better fit for your jerk:

[images.app.goo.gl]

His inclusion of religious references in business emails is certainly inappropriate. Hopefully your coaching him will show him a better way to conduct himself in a business setting.
I even get uncomfortable with folks on LinkedIn who put up posts with religious overtones. It just isn’t the proper venue for it.

Sack him.

There are some people who think they're being persecuted if they aren't allowed to attempt to force their religion on others.

They think that not being allowed to proselytize is being persecuted.

How can this be Christian persecution? What would happen if a Muslim used what relates to their religious practice at the end business correspondence? Even when I was part of the religious community, I thought it was something you lived by...not going around proclaiming your god to everyone. My observation is the Christians will call it persecution, if they cannot proclaim their religious affiliations to each and everyone! That is exactly what my Christian relatives do! They have no shame in pointing it out, even to me! Hopefully they want sue for discrimination. There is no end in sight to this!

It was just sour grapes masquerading as outrage. It's very common.

Christians in the West have no concept of what persecution actually is, so they imagine it to be the denial of the freedom to proselytize the disinterested even subtly. It is hard for them to accept that virtue-signaling with unwanted Christian formulations is unprofessional or unwelcome to anyone. That leaves them vulnerable to the thought that they could just maybe be wrong, and that is intolerable to a fundamentalist. Fundamentalism isn't about being good (or respectful, or professional), it's about being right. To be wrong is to go to hell. Any form of dissent is offensive to them. Even the failure to enthusiastically endorse their beliefs is offensive.

This overrides "my house my rules" that you were legitimately asserting, and pretty much everything else. It's why their wet dream is of a theocracy where everyone HAS to allow, if not affirm, their rightness.

you were absolutely right. religious commentary has no place in the broader business world. if it were a church it'd be a different situation.

Well, what else would it be? This is a Christian country after all... ?????

That's the thing, isn't it? The christians in this country have had their privilege for so long, when they're told that they have to dial it back in public, and in the workplace, they act like they're being discriminated against.

I remember a particular occasion when I was in college. One of the programs I was in was having a "pot-luck" to celebrate the end of the term.
When the time arrived to the festivities to begin, all the food and accompaniments were laid out, people started eating. Which seemed like the appropriate thing to do.
One of the instructors came in and immediately began to lose her shit because no one waited for her to say the "blessing", and called us all "a bunch of heathens".
Being me, I had to point out that none of us were required to participate in any
kind of religious prayer, and that I was an atheist and didn't believe in prayers anyway. I then asked her if she wanted a plate.
She didn't seem terribly pleased about any of that, and stormed off in a huff.
We all went back to eating.

It is unprofessional. I wonder if he would like it if he got his pay stub in an envelope marked..Allahu Akbar​

When I was accepted to medical school the woman giving me my tour of our facilities said “I’m so glad god brought you to us. Your profession is a blessing from Jesus.”

Now keep in mind this is a major university and my classmates were Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist.

I looked at her and said “Jesus didn’t take my exams. I did.”

Maybe you should sign your correspondence to him with "Hail Satan" if he doesn't stop.

I also don't mind a person being religious, but I will not do business with any company that advertises their religion whether it be Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Pagan.

As for your question...... Rabid Christians sees anyone blocking their pushing of religion as persecution. They've been brought up to spread the word far and wide, and they see it as an affront to them if they can't. If you haven't already I would probably put a note in his file (if you're able to) just in case they decide to file a discrimination or hostile environment lawsuit.

Lol. Yup, it qualifies. In the absence of being driven out of their homes and raped and killed, they are struggling to find things to complain about.

I think I personally would have insisted that he drop the phrase and expected him to consider himself persecuted because of it. I might also have brought up a few instances of persecution churches have traditionally inflicted on unbelievers.

There seem to be a lot of Christians who are aching to claim persecution, possibly because their suffering will prove their love and faithfulness to the great sky daddy. If you had fired or demoted him over it, sure, he could claim it. Unfortunately for him, you only asked him not to be an unprofessional twat when he was communicating on behalf of the company that pays him, which seems perfectly acceptable and legal.

I think that use - the "god bless" - is completely inappropriate in the business world. Unless, of course, you are in the god business. I don't know that I would consider your request religious persecution, but rather "business smarts". I would probably roll my eyes at the thought of it being a persecution of any kind, but I would insist that it is not at all appropriate in the work-place.

I try to respect people for their choices, but I will NOT do business with any obviously religious group, or a business that uses or displays any religious icon. I prefer to spend my dollars with companies that are secular - or at least appear to be secular.

I have no problem with people being religious. Hell I was a Christian a few months ago. I don't think however that signing your email with a religious statement is professional. While it may be a nice gesture I think that's something you sign a get well card with, not a business email. I don't believe you were wrong for bringing this to his attention.
Also, it's not like you'd sign your emails with "there is no god" lol