Topic: Have a "fired" day? (Read 2037 times)

Yep that sounds about right going with the way US Bank handled this and why Chase Bank asked the gay question in an internal company survey lol.

That is the answer to this so-called dilemma , I will begin using Aloha for every occasion.  ;-)

Seriously,  a quick look at my good old Merriam -Webster shows multiple definitions for the word Blessed.  The religious definition means "holy" or "beatified", while the non-religious definition means simple "Delightful".  Which is generally the way I interpret someone who wishes me a "Blessed Day'  Simply wishing me a delightful day.  And even if the person who says to me "Have a Blessed Day" is meaning have a Holy Day, as long as he or she is not saying who or what makes the day "holy".  And as such the expression remains generic and neutral with regard to specific religious tradition or belief..  Now if someone actually says "May the Good Lord bless you and keep" -- Or something like "Christ (or Allah) be with you, it does cross a certain religious boundary.  Although even then I would be not be offended or even the least bit annoyed.  

Having said all of that, I really do not have enough information  to determine if I can justify the firing or not.  If the employees history included  any degree of proselytizing, that is one thing.  On the other hand if it was obviously a greeting that was simply used in a generic manner, associated with a regional speech pattern, I  would object to the firing on a personal level.  Although the employer may be on solid legal ground based on how the manner in which specific instructions wee given tot he employee.

In any event, let me end by simply saying to everyone  "Avere un giorno meraviglioso".

There you go again. You are saying that it is a southern saying and I know someone on this board who says it a lot and she is not a southerner. DO you want to challenge me on that since YOU brought up people that say that on this board?  As I said. The meaning is all in the tone.
Question: Why can't you carry on a conversation without attempting to insult people? Did you learn that from your parents?

While I have visited but not lived in the south, it may surprise non native Californians to know a fair number of transplanted southerners reside here, some of whom are friends.  So, while not unaware of the usage of "bless your heart" as honeyed barb know it's also used affectionately, not necessarily religiously.  

Now we're going to pick a nit as to who is southern and who isn't?  Texas was a member of the Confederacy, which was about as "South" as it got.   Down here, you know when someone says "bless your heart" if they're really blessing, or saying a saccharin FU.   More often than not, it's the latter.  

That is not the original meaning of "Bless your heart" and I still know a lot of southerners who use it and mean as a nice comment. People have just gotten so damned sensitive. But yes, it has evolved into another meaning when said in a certain tone. But you go ahead and insult well meaning people if you wish. 

"Bless your heart" is a derogatory phrase insulting someone's intelligence, people from the south know this.  That's why I respond in kind with "That's nice" which means "f*** you" in southerneze.   

It is ok...if you have not lived in both the North and the South you would not know the difference in the use of the word.

But ignorance is nothing to be ashamed of, you can learn by reading posts and listening to others...if you just cut off the part of your tongue that you use for biting remarks.Even used that southern staple "Bless your heart!"

Glad i could help you here.

"Blessed" is, I suspect, a regional term in general conversation, residing mostly in our Southern states. You virtually never here the term in the North in general conversation.

And if it is part of your linguistic dialogue you might not be a  good judge of how others receive the word...just saying.

You know, this is interesting. 

Though consensus is employer was justified in the firing, not so certain I agree with the bank's case.  "Blessed" is a pretty ubiquitous adjective.  DD pointed out that neo-pagans use the term, and I've used "Bless you,".  I know I've also said, when reflecting on, um, blessings, things like "We're blessed to live in this time and this place".  Even used that southern staple "Bless your heart!" I don't like the idea that a generic expression of good will can be justifiable cause for termination. 

I assure you they would not. (As long as those words didn't accompany a bomb blast or a shooting. LOL.) People say things just to be nice sometimes. Just dammit be nice back. It will not kill you.

"Have a nice day" is just as rote and just as insincere.  Notice it has gone out of style?  There's a reason for that...it irritates people.

Maybe because she thought it was a stupid policy and was willing to be fired rather than have such a lovely and harmless bit of speech be squashed.  Her choice.  And the bank's choice to fire her.  And the public's choice to fire the bank.

Wouldn't offend me at all. And you say it wouldn't offend you. But can you honestly say that people here, some conservatives here, would not have a problem with it?

Usually when people say that people should be allowed to express religious sentiments, they mean their religious sentiment and not others.

I can assure you that if this thread was about someone saying "as-salaam alaikum" at a bank, the conservatives here would be asking for that teller to be fired.

Maybe because she thought it was a stupid policy and was willing to be fired rather than have such a lovely and harmless bit of speech be squashed.  Her choice.  And the bank's choice to fire her.  And the public's choice to fire the bank.

The woman who was fired in the OP story had been warned by her employer, not just once, but several times.  Why would she risk her job for something so trivial, unless it wasn't trivial to her and she was pushing an agenda?

I would respond with a "you too" myself, Sana.  "Peace be with you" doesn't offend me.  Why would it?

Zolace you think the response would be the same if everyone at the bank says "as-salaam alaikum"? Or would the response here be that the teller should be fired?

Geez.  How is this any different than saying "Have a nice day"?  Or does that piss you grumps off too?
Yes the bank has the right to fire her, and the public has a right to not use the bank as a result if they disagree with the policy.  Isn'tt that a great thing?

I can get annoyance at rote, insincere good wishes though consider it one of most trivial of irritants of daily life.  Canned corporate treacle.  But don't, as stated, identify with becoming irritated at "Have a blessed day" (or variations of the same from whichever stripe of religionist). 
Hypersensitivity to speech deemed religious seems to have reached ridiculous proportions to me, and growing to the point where I believe 1st amendment rights are compromised for the practicing religionist.  What sort of climate is it when a deeply held aspect of one's beliefs, that of wishing one's neighbor blessings (which, as DD observed isn't confined to Christianity) can't be uttered without fear of reprisal?