# "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:** 3
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/41 "2012-03-07T21:16:23Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > I’m going with the anti-smileh/kitteh/jehoveh brigade and saying it’s unprofessional. I would \*love \*to see a Smileh Kitteh Jehoveh, though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/42 "2012-03-07T21:17:50Z")
> [@campp](#): > > There’s someone in our office who always answers “How are you today?” with “I’m blessed”. I wish I knew you, so I could take you to lunch. On the way out we could pass by this woman’s desk and when she said “I’m blessed”, I could say “Congratulations! When are you due?” while making eye contact with her waistline. I vote for unprofessional. Professional correspondence is closed with _Sincerely yours_, _Kind regards_, or _Yr obt servant_, not invocations. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/43 "2012-03-07T21:18:25Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Now _that’s_ professionalism! Huh? What did I say that was unprofessional? Basically what I was saying is that there’s no way to professionally say ANYTHING back to people who say that without it being construed as unprofessional, and that’s what bugs me about it. ---
**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, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/44 "2012-03-07T21:21:04Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Tastes vary. I’d prefer personalisation. That’s nice. I don’t know that about you unless you say so though, so if you didn’t, I’d refrain. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/45 "2012-03-07T21:30:09Z")
No more or less unprofessional than the coworker who says “bless you” after a sneeze at work. It means nothing to me. Maybe a religious non-Christian would be offended, but as a completely non-religious person, I’m not. ---
**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, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/46 "2012-03-07T21:38:29Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Huh? What did I say that was unprofessional? Basically what I was saying is that there’s no way to professionally say ANYTHING back to people who say that without it being construed as unprofessional, and that’s what bugs me about it. You didn’t _say_ anything unprofessional. But assuming the worst about a coworker, which plainly is what you advocated doing, on the basis of a throwaway line which is not meant to be denigrating at the bottom of an email is a far greater sin against professionalism than saying “Have a blessed day.” Just read what you posted above: your complaint is that there is no way to professionally communicate your dissatisfaction. Well, of course not, because professionalism involves confronting things that you might not choose to do yourself, or even understand why other people might choose to do them, without finding that state of affairs to be an invitation to express your disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/47 "2012-03-07T21:40:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Since I have only heard it from those who are very outwardly Christian I would have to disagree with you. I assumed at first that it was a pagan, but they’re a lot more common / open in California than other places ---
**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, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/48 "2012-03-07T21:40:42Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > That’s nice. I don’t know that about you unless you say so though, so if you didn’t, I’d refrain. But what about those who enjoy feeling aggrieved and outraged? ---
**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, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/49 "2012-03-07T21:42:22Z")
Experience tells me that anyone who tells me to have a blessed day is among those people. ---
**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, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/50 "2012-03-07T21:49:57Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > 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. That’s a good point. I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen any sign-offs other than the pages-long disclaimers insisted on by some companies. At least, not as embedded signatures; “have a good weekend” and the like are quite common, but it’s part of the body of the email and between people who regularly correspond. It would also be an odd one to include automatically in an email which wasn’t cheery and positive. “We regret that we are unable to refund your payment for this order. Have a blessed day!” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/51 "2012-03-07T21:50:08Z")
> [@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”_. “Darling Fascist Bully-boy…” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/52 "2012-03-07T21:55:43Z")
I’m in California and never ever would’ve made a religious connection to the simple use of the word “blessed” or “blessings”. Of course, context is key and if it’s tied to other Christian phrases or an evangelical personality, then I can see the possibility for offense based on the presumptuousness of the user. But the OP did not specify that–only the use of the phrase and the knee-jerk “godless heathen” overreaction. I don’t think it’s unprofessional but I personally prefer to use it sparingly. ---
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/53 "2012-03-07T22:14:08Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > \ It’s unprofessional, in my opinion, because it runs the risk of bringing polarizing topics into (what should be) a neutral environment. You’ve put your finger on why I think it is unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/54 "2012-03-07T22:21:14Z")
I’ve only heard this phrase from African-American women, and it’s something you hear pretty widely in some communities. I would consider it a cultural thing habit similar to “bless you” after a sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/55 "2012-03-07T22:44:15Z")
Whenever I hear the world blessed I think of pagans. Blessed be! I just don’t hear the world blessed all that often from anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/56 "2012-03-07T22:46:23Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > I’m in California and never ever would’ve made a religious connection to the simple use of the word “blessed” or “blessings”. Of course, context is key and if it’s tied to other Christian phrases or an evangelical personality, then I can see the possibility for offense based on the presumptuousness of the user. > > But the OP did not specify that–only the use of the phrase and **the knee-jerk “godless heathen” overreaction**. I don’t think it’s unprofessional but I personally prefer to use it sparingly. Could you please clarify the part I bolded? How did I overreact? (I believe I specified that I was not offended.) If it adds context, I’m in Texas, where this is a very evangelical Christian phrasing. And to whoever mentioned earlier: not an embedded signature. She typed it out. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/57 "2012-03-07T22:56:12Z")
I wouldn’t care, but it does seem unprofessional for a business email. It’s funny that people are annoyed at its inherent Christianess because the first thing I thought of was the Pagan “blessed be”. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/58 "2012-03-08T01:01:28Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I would \*love \*to see a Smileh Kitteh Jehoveh, though. We just need to get some smileh kittehs pasted over the guys’ [faces](http://www.fugly.com/pictures/12762/ymca_jesus.html)and we’re there. I won’t be using it as a sig, but I’d love to see it! ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/59 "2012-03-08T01:37:24Z")
BFD, get back to work! ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056/60 "2012-03-08T01:38:44Z")
Ages back when I was a student who tutored other students, right in the middle of a lesson, my then-tutoree leaned across the table and asked, ‘What is your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ?’ I answered, ‘Carnal, why?’ She never asked me again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-blessed-day-at-the-end-of-a-work-related-email-unprofessional/615056.md?page=4)