The ‘A’ Word: Atheism in the Workplace
May 9, 2010
How many of you out there in the intertubez have had to hide your atheism or other form of non-belief from your employers? Whether because you think people would treat you differently, try to evangelize you, or worse, try to get you fired or not even hire you in the first place, the fact is these reasons shouldn’t have to exist. But, as with many things which shouldn’t exist, these conditions do.
This is especially relevant to me right now because I am about to graduate college, and be thrust out into the real world. Being in the real world means having a career, and while I’m very happy with the job I have now (where I am also openly atheist and accepted by everyone!), I have been thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life. This has made my non-belief front and center in doing research for career opportunities, because I am faced with a very serious problem: Do I lie about being a non-believer to get a job?
The ideal situation would be that I wouldn’t have to lie, because atheism wouldn’t be as publicly shunned as it currently is. And while I see a glaring ethical dilemma in lying about something which I am so supportive of being open about, the fact of the matter is that I also need a career.
The other issue to consider here is that, in this age of employers using the internet to conduct mini background searches on their prospective employees, a search of my name brings up a few links which directly connect me to atheism-related organizations and content. So the other question would then be if covering up my non-belief would even be necessary.
This is still something I’ve just been turning over in my head, and I still don’t have a straight-forward answer. Have any of you had to hide your non-belief in the workplace?
May 9, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I have no problems at my work. As my boss is one of us. ie. An Atheist. lol
May 9, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I hide my atheism from my co-workers, inasmuch that I don’t talk about it to them. I know my bosses are Catholic, but I also know who among us is Atheistic, and it’s about 40%. But I just don’t think it has a place at work, just like the fact that our receptionist being gay makes no difference in the workplace. UNfortunately the reality can be much less kind.
May 9, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I don’t think it should have a space in the workplace either, but my issue here is that sometimes it does, and it can mean bad news bears for us heathens depending on who’s found out about your atheism, and what they think about nonbelievers.
May 9, 2010 at 11:45 pm
I’ve never had an issue at places I’ve worked. I currently work as a TA at the University of Wisconsin; naturally, higher ed doesn’t really take issue with the atheism thing. But when I was living in Texas (where I grew up…as an atheist) I also didn’t run into much of a problem. The closest it came was when I was working at my first undergrad institution in a clerical job, where all my superiors were fairly conservative, but they were also friendly enough (that or they didn’t really take me seriously) that it never became a problem. After I transferred to UT-Austin and got a job in that neighborhood there was no problem at all. I guess the moral of the story is, work somewhere urban where there’s a big college.
May 9, 2010 at 11:54 pm
The truth comes out eventually so you may as well get comfortable owning up to it if the question arises. I think it was Sam Harris that made the point about “atheist” having a harshly negative connotation, in which case “I’m not religious” is saying the exact same thing but without the baggage.
The Internet and social networking do kind of fuck up any real attempts at secrecy. That’s how my atheism got exposed at my workplace. Overall, though, it hasn’t been nearly as much of an issue as I figured it would be. And I should say that most of my coworkers are much older Christian men, and that this is smack dab in the middle of Montana (not exactly America’s atheism capital).
Ultimately, you should be able to be who you are wherever you go. I understand the need to make certain concessions about yourself for the sake of a career, but do you really think you would ever be happy at a place that would change how you’re treated based on what you did or did not believe?
May 10, 2010 at 12:00 am
I like the difference between “atheism” and “I’m not religious”; I wouldn’t feel so much like I was covering up something about myself if I said that. And no, I wouldn’t want to work at a place which would discriminate against me, of course. I’ve just been worrying away at this issue for a while and needed to get some advice on the subject.
May 10, 2010 at 12:01 am
Don’t create a problem where none may exist. Especially if you’re trying to stay in the Boston area, not exactly the heart of the Bible Belt, I don’t think you’re going to have too many problems. You may be pleasantly surprised by how little religion matters to employers–either because of law or simple disposition.
Don’t fall into the “we’re under constant attack” mindset that has turned so many Christians into eternal victims. You can’t legally be passed up for employment because of your religious beliefs. If you have a problem with that while you’re actually out looking for a job, deal with it then. Don’t create the problem now.
May 10, 2010 at 12:06 am
I think this is just worrying me because I know people who have had to do this very thing for fear of getting their application rejected. I won’t name names or even elaborate on the situation any more than this, but knowing that other people have had to do it just makes me nervous as I think about career searches.
And yes, I agree that adopting the “poor me” mentality is a mistake, and won’t help the cause at all. I don’t think at all that we’re “under constant attack” but that doesn’t mean there aren’t drawbacks to atheism. You need to be able to discuss the problems in order to make them better.
May 10, 2010 at 12:11 am
What I do find interesting, outside of the workplace tho, is how I feel when I openly admit and flaunt my atheism. On Saturday I wore my A+ teeshirt to the hardware store. we have a LOT of Muslims in my area, and I felt on-guard the whole time I was out. It’s an odd feeling, to feel like I’m being threatened, when there is no real threat.
May 10, 2010 at 12:17 am
Start carrying a weapon, you won’t feel as threatened.
May 10, 2010 at 12:46 am
I currently live in Alabama, heart of the Bible country. I’ve never had a hard time finding a job because of course, religion isn’t exactly a question on applications but I too have worried about how my co-workers will treat me upon finding out that I’m an atheist. However, after years of working with, under, and above (supervising) hardcore Christians, I’ve found that it’s rarely an issue. Usually it doesn’t come up but when it does (and considering I have a Darwin fish tattooed on my forearm it will) I am straight up honest about it, I simply say I’m an atheist. I think it’s important not to be scared to declare that, because as a country we really need to get rid of the negative association with atheism. People learn to accept it. I’m sure I’ve probably gotten some bad comments behind my back but nothing serious. It’s illegal for an employer to use your beliefs (or lack thereof) against you, and if a company wants to try and do that anyways, I will quit. Companies such as those don’t deserve any support or respect.
May 10, 2010 at 1:18 am
My atheism didn’t come up in my interview (to teach at a high school). As it shouldn’t.
But I’d been an out atheist for a long time and I suspect it wouldn’t have been heard to find information about me. I’m not sure if my boss Googled me, but we have since talked about religion and I usually just keep it “toned down” around colleagues.
I don’t talk about my website or book unless a colleague brings it up. I don’t give out my opinions on religion unless we’re all having a conversation. And I don’t go after religious colleagues for no good reason. Because of all that, no one really cares about my beliefs. If anything, they joke about it and it’s all in good fun.
I certainly don’t discuss this with students.
Only once has my atheism been an issue at work because of a third party who tried to make it one. Both my boss and principal are religious, but they knew I kept my beliefs private, and because of that, they had my back the whole time.
My suggestion to you: I wouldn’t brag about your atheism on a resume or interview. But I would wait to know your colleagues before you discuss anything religion-related with them.
Another commenter said it well: Don’t create a problem where none may exist.
May 10, 2010 at 9:57 am
I think this fear just came from some experiences people I know have had, and I was trying to see if these were more isolated incidents by finding iut what some people here would say. Luckily everyone so far thinks I’m making too big a deal out of it, so it must not be a big problem!
I do know better than to discuss these things at work though. Just as I wouldn’t want to listen to someone proclaiming their faith, I expect to keep my mouth shut about godlessness. I have a hard time not being talkative, but I think I can reign myself in for this!
May 10, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Where I teach (at an adult’s International College) Most of my students are Indian, and a bunch of those are Muslim. I have in the past told my class that I am atheist, but I did it in a really gentle way, not stating what it means to be atheist, except of how it shapes my worldview. Part of teaching in an international college is to help students to integrate into the Australian society, and I think to show them that not everyone in Australia is religious is part of this.
I’m finding that since I’m now an atheistic activist, that it’s harder to separate my beliefs from my everyday, as it’s how I relate to the universe.
Laura, Hemant, do you have this problem too?
May 12, 2010 at 8:10 am
I’ve hid my atheism in a couple different jobs, including my present one. However, I’ve been gradually coming out at work over the past year. Reactions have been mixed and range from extremely negative to fairly positive. Fortunately, I’ve been lucky in that most of the negative reactions so far have come from people who do not have a great deal of direct power over me.
My advice for someone preparing to enter the job market in our current economy is to do what you have to do to get the job, even if it means keeping your atheism under wraps. Once you are in a better position to assess the environment and the risks, you may decide to be more open (or not). If it doesn’t feel safe to be openly atheist, you may decide down the road that it isn’t the job for you. But in the meantime, you’ll be getting the experience you need to get that next job.
I understand the dilemma, and I’ve never lied at work about my atheism. I’ve never pretended to be anything I’m not. But I have certainly changed the subject, answered evasively, or simply given incomplete responses. I’m still far more likely to say, “No thanks, I don’t go to church” than “No thanks, I’m an atheist.”
As for the internet associations you mentioned, that could be a problem in some places. I’d personally remove your name from wherever you can as soon as you can. It is getting very common for potential employers to research those they are considering hiring on the internet.
May 12, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Saw this and thought of you: http://www.thegoodatheist.net/2010/05/ontario-teachers-desperate-for-work-fake-being-catholic/
May 12, 2010 at 5:00 pm
My colleagues probably know or suspect about my atheism, but I try not to stir the pot. In my residency, on the bible belt, I’m surrounded by mormons (4 to be exact). We like to discuss politics but religion has never been touched. Better it be left like that. If these 2 yrs go fast, and we still get along, it would be better than spending 2 yrs with bickering colleagues.
Point aside, it’s a shame how mormons can be so naive about the reality. They should stop hanging out only among themselves.
May 13, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I’m late to the discussion, but as has been mentioned already, taking religious belief into account during the hiring process is illegal. Having said that, from a practical standpoint there isn’t much you can do if the employer is even remotely savvy (they can just say you weren’t the most qualified candidate or something like that).
Realistically, even in the bible belt (although admittedly I haven’t lived there since 1995), I think you’ll find most people care more about their business when it comes to hiring. If you’re helping make them money, most will look the other way even if they find your beliefs heretical. And if they’re willing to prioritize their religion over the business’ bottom line, well, that’s really not a place you want to work anyway. Setting aside all the other issues, it’s just bad business.