# "Have a blessed day" at the end of a work-related email. Unprofessional? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056 "2012-03-07T18:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/21 "2012-03-07T19:29:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > _“May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman”_. Neil, Neil, orange peel! Why is this a big deal? I know “blessed” has religious connotations, but it’s not as if the individual in question is citing a Bible verse. For me, it’s a big 'ol meh. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/22 "2012-03-07T19:30:11Z")
> [@campp](#): > > There’s someone in our office who always answers “How are you today?” with “I’m blessed”. > > Barf. Do you respond with, “But enough about your penis…”? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/23 "2012-03-07T19:34:46Z")
“Blessed” ins’t necessarily Christian. And it isn’t even necessarily religious! We’ve all been advised to “count our blessings,” even in a completely secular manner. It’s just another way of saying, “have a nice day.” Just as vapid, but no more nefarious or proselytizing. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/24 "2012-03-07T19:39:56Z")
Meh. Unprofessional but I appreciate the warning. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/25 "2012-03-07T19:44:45Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Neil, Neil, orange peel! I’m glad somebody got it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/26 "2012-03-07T19:45:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Salutations and closings are just meaningless fluff. > > I’m an atheist but I’m not offended is somebody writes _“Have a blessed day”_ or _“Peace be unto you”_ or _“May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman”_. They’re all essentially equivalent to _“hello”_ or _“good bye”_. Vegetable rights and peace. I disagree. I think it’s very unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/27 "2012-03-07T19:58:03Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > All I get out of seeing that kind of stuff is “That person is potential a judgmental Christian and I sure the heck had better watch what I say around them.” In other words, it’s OK for them to spew their religion at me, but I know the shit would hit the fan if anyone tried to spew Islam or Atheism or Buddhism back at them. Now _that’s_ professionalism! ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/28 "2012-03-07T19:58:13Z")
In the places I’ve lived in, this phrase is pretty much exclusively used by African American women. In fact, a black female cashier at the grocery store said it to me just today. I don’t think of it as a religious expression as much as a cultural expression. As for whether it’s unprofessional to talk about religion at work, eh, I try to avoid revealing anything about my political or religious views at work, but I don’t really care if other people talk about it. If someone is a hard worker and cooperates with everyone else, who really cares? I don’t. (And if someone isn’t a good worker, knowing that they share my religious or political views doesn’t really help) You could make a big deal out of this, if you’re the type to make a big fuss over it every time someone says “God bless you”, but I don’t think it’s a big deal myself. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/29 "2012-03-07T20:09:54Z")
There was a small business owner we were doing business with over the phone/interent and he (Jerry) always ended his e-mails and phone conversations with “God Bless.” We were in dire need of a spare part for a breakdown recently and had him ship it overnight. He sent the wrong part. My co-worker dared me to send him an e-mail that said “You sent the wrong part! god damn Jerry, god damn!” _If you’re doing business with a religious son-of-a-bitch, get it in writing. His word isn’t worth shit. Not with the good lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal. - William S. Burroughs_ ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/30 "2012-03-07T20:10:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I think I may start using, “May you crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women,” in response to “Have a blessed day.” I think I’d just go with “And a sinful night to you!” ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/31 "2012-03-07T20:17:11Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > “Blessed” ins’t necessarily Christian. And it isn’t even necessarily religious! We’ve all been advised to “count our blessings,” even in a completely secular manner. It’s just another way of saying, “have a nice day.” Just as vapid, but no more nefarious or proselytizing. In the case I mentioned, its because she “has a relationship with the lord” :rolleyes: I know because it gets mentined often. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/32 "2012-03-07T20:18:12Z")
I’m going with the anti-smileh/kitteh/jehoveh brigade and saying it’s unprofessional. Mind you, I tend to make wide circles around street evangelists and complain loudly if they ‘Eww, got \*blessings \*on me.’ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/33 "2012-03-07T20:23:04Z")
> [@campp](#): > > In the case I mentioned, its because she “has a relationship with the lord” :rolleyes: I know because it gets mentined often. I have a personal relationship with my wife, but I don’t mention it at the end of all my correspondence. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/34 "2012-03-07T20:25:50Z")
I have no problems with a simple greeting. It’s not even from a particular faith’s viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/35 "2012-03-07T20:42:48Z")
I had a coworker who had HR visit to explain that it was unprofessional. White male by the way. We had a rash of bible quotes and blessings being removed from signatures as a result of a discrimination lawsuit by Muslims. So that company’s legal department thought it was unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/36 "2012-03-07T20:51:26Z")
I wouldn’t be bothered, but then religion impacts on me so little in my daily life that it’d be easy for me to brush off. It would make me think that, if this were someone I saw on a regular enough basis (tea-break conversations and the like) that I’d usually end up coming out to her in the course of everyday chit-chat, I’d be well-advised to avoid doing so. > [@stpauler](#): > > [snip] or say that we should never forget 9/11. If I saw that at the end of an email I’d tempted to ask why 0.818181818 is so important. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/37 "2012-03-07T20:57:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have no problems with a simple greeting. It’s not even from a particular faith’s viewpoint. Since I have only heard it from those who are very outwardly Christian I would have to disagree with you. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/38 "2012-03-07T21:00:28Z")
I am a practicing , God fearing, Bible thumping, Christian. No one I deal with in a professional capacity knows that, nor should they. I had planned to post much of what **Tim R. Mortiss** said. Christianity does not have any special claim on blessedness. My own disdain for “Have a Blessed Day” comes from my interaction with a woman who works as a cashier in the county parking structure that serves (among other things) the local library. I visit the library frequently and had seen her on many occasions. She’d take my card, and then my fifty cents and then say “Thank you. Have a blessed day.” and I’d drive away. One day I went to the library without my wallet. I didn’t have fifty cents for parking, not even in the seat cushions. I greeted her apologetically, and explained my situation. She let out a stream of the foulest, most unprofessional language I’ve ever heard directed at me. I can’t believer you don’t \*\*\*\*\*\*\* have enough \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* money. It’s \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* fifty cents! Who the \*\*\*\*\*\* goes out without money? \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*, \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*." She did not finish up with “have a blessed day” that time. She did three days later. It was kind of freaky. I mean, I don’t imagine myself to be particularly memorable, but how often is she cursing people out that she doesn’t remember it three days later? It would raise my eyebrow less if that closing came on a work related internal email than if it came to me from a vendor or client. But only a little less. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/39 "2012-03-07T21:03:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Salutations and closings are just meaningless fluff. > > I’m an atheist but I’m not offended is somebody writes _“Have a blessed day”_ or _“Peace be unto you”_ or _“May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman”_. They’re all essentially equivalent to _“hello”_ or _“good bye”_. But the question isn’t if it’s offensive but is it professional. Those are two different things. It’s unprofessional, in my opinion, because it runs the risk of bringing polarizing topics into (what should be) a neutral environment. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/40 "2012-03-07T21:10:40Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > A terrible, evangelizing attempt. Skip the personalization unless you happen to actually know the person quite well on a personal basis. Tastes vary. I’d prefer personalisation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056.md?page=3)