Johovah's Witness?

Question

Our office celebrates each employee's birthday by going to lunch and the company pays for the birthday boy/girl. We have a Johovah's Witness in our office. How should we handle it? Since they do not celebrate birthdays, should we not bring it up?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses do not harbor some superstitious aversion to discussing birthdays. Someone in authority should ask the Witness employee how the employee himself wishes the matter to be handled.

Incidentally, while Jehovah's Witnesses do not "celebrate" birthdays, it would not be unreasonable for a Witness to reason that the "free lunch" on his birthday is merely a fringe benefit similar to having a day off with pay at Christmas.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses understand and appreciate that others attach importance to the day they were born, they just believe that every day is a celebration of life, and yesterday or tomorrow is no more or less important. If you like the employee, maybe you could arrange a lunch for that person, "just because" they are a part of the office and that you appreciate their work, etc...

Answer 3

being you know that this person does not celebrate birthdays you might ask this person how they feel about it from what i know of them they are very stright foreward and will not feel offended by the question since it is a standard practice of the office, you might also take into consideration weather or not they have attended any of the other parties for other employees birthdays, this would give you a little insight into how they feel about the subject

Answer 4

Probably the nicest thing you could do for them (speaking from personal experience) is to ask them to explain why they don't celebrate birthdays, and then really listen.

Once you understand where they're coming from, you might tell them (as long as it's true): "I really enjoy working with you, and I know everyone else here does to. We respect your religious beliefs and don't want to ask you to do anything that would compromise them. On the other hand, we really would like to take you out to lunch sometime just to show how much we appreciate you working here with us. Would that be okay?"

I think you'd be surprised how much a little personal interest without pressure to compromise their beliefs would mean to your coworker.

Answer 5

We have quite a few Jehovah's Witnesses at our office. They aren't hurt by not asking them, it's considered rude to ask. Consider waiting for a nothing in particular day and brining a "Thinking of you" or "Glad to have you as a friend" card. They do celebrate anniversaries so live it up on the date they were hired each year! The thinking as my coworker/ friend explained it to me is that they consider it important to care about our friends every day, and they consider holidays taking away from that, or at least it's part of it.

Answer 6

Respect that that person does not ' celebrate ' birthdays and honor that by not wishing them a happy birthday.

Maybe instead during their birthday week take the time to express to them something like " I hope you are having a good week " . . . " I'm glad to be able to work with you " . . . or even say... " I acknowledge your religion and am respecting of that....yet, I'd like to express that I enjoy working with you (or fill in what ever compliment you choose) i.e. you do your job well, you make things around here more efficient etc.

Answer 7

it rather is done immersion. they generally have a extensive swimming pool erected at a custom. The baptism applicants become bathing suits. previous to baptism, the candidate sits with the elders and is going by an prolonged record of question & solutions. final count variety replaced into a hundred and twenty, i think. 2 important questions are asked of the candidate and could be spoke back to interior the affirmative if the candidate is to be authorised baptism. the 1st question is: on the muse of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you ever repented of your sins and committed your self to Jehovah to do his will? the 2d is: Do you recognize that your dedication and baptism % out you as one in each and every of Jehovah’s Witnesses in affiliation with God’s spirit-directed enterprise? So, you spot, you're no longer basically dedicating your self to Jehovah. there is an extra stipulation which you will no longer locate in Christian church homes: your act of baptism identifies you as one in each and every of JWs and with the Watchtower enterprise. you will now be estimated to fully and unquestioningly adjust to all the regulations and proscriptions of the WTS. Failure to attain this alongside with an thoughts-set it rather is perceived as being "unrepentant" will consequence in ostracization of the guy by skill of something of the congregation, which includes acquaintances and kinfolk interior the ranks. appropriate to think of stressful, in case you're thinking leaping by those hoops! it rather is intense stuff! those above who say they are not giving allegiance to the WT are the two mendacity or don't be responsive to what they are asserting. The above Qs are quoted from their very own cloth: Watchtower 6/a million/eighty 5, p. 30!

Answer 8

If you want parity ask the employee and the company, in lieu of celebrating your birthday would it be okay if the company make a charitable donation in that employees name to the charity of their choice.

Answer 9

Jehovah's Witnesses will be grateful for your honoring their beliefs if they aren't encouraged to take part in any birthday or holiday celebrations. They won't feel like they're left out.

Answer 10

You could ask them to choose a day during the year in order to celebrate your appreciation of having them as a coworker. We do this in our office - it works well - people feel appreciated but it doesn't tie into an actual birthday! By letting them choose the day it still makes them feel special and apart of the group!