Standing for Righteousness on the Job
It's hard in this present time to know what things we should speak up about and what things we should endure while we're at work. We live in such depraved times that showing up late, slacking off, ignoring quality, being disrespectful and/or stupid are all more the rule than the exception today. The adults are either retired, nearly retired, or dead. So, the following is intended as a succinct set of basic guidelines for standing up for right in a world of depraved, unintelligent, and unserious people who, despite all evidence to the contrary, see themselves as good, smart, and entitled to your respect.
1. Wait patiently and endure as long as you can.
There are enough jerks in the world that start complaining on the job about everything they don’t like. Be slow and calculated here. Some things you must just endure silently. Not every issue must be addressed. Remember, you’re in the world. Don’t expect them to behave like the saints.
2. Don’t run to management first on most issues.
Some issues must immediately involve management. Interpersonal issues often do not. This part takes some courage. In my time in healthcare I’ve learned that many/most people are cowards. They run to their work friends and management every time they have an issue with a coworker. The person they never go to is the one they have the issue with. Perhaps your vocation is similar. You must go to them first and politely address the issue. The next steps will help with that.
3. Do not suggest you are entitled to changes that benefit you.
Unless you’re dealing with a clear policy issue, you are just making a request. You may feel like you are in the right, God is on your side, and truth must prevail. But you are not an Old Testament prophet. Be respectful and make your request. You are not in a position to demand in most of these cases.
4. Make it clear that you can endure, but that you should not have to do so.
Christians should not be portrayed as thin-skinned, sensitive people who crumple every time someone uses an expletive. No. We have thick skin. Police don their body armor daily, but I haven’t met one yet that is excited about trying it out for real. Similarly, we can take hits and withstand the world's filthy talk. But no one should have to endure that in what is supposed to be a professional setting.
5. Don’t expect changes to actually happen.
Change isn’t the point. Depending on where you work, if you do have to take your request to management, don’t expect much. In the world the manager will typically not have any higher principles than the staff. They may not even want to deal with your issue at all. The point isn’t that you change the place. The point is that you stood for God, you stood for propriety and professionalism, and you made it known that a different standard is present. Perhaps you’ll find you have an ally or two that would have never spoken up if you hadn’t. Ultimately, even if you lose, and you very well may, you still did what was right. You were “salt” and “light.”
6. Be willing to lose your job.
It may take a while, but prepare the temporal means in advance in case you are ever fired for standing up for what is right. As this age moves ever deeper into inverted morals, we can expect Christians to experience job loss for this more and more. You may as well prepare. Having a multiplicity of marketable skills helps as well.
7. Get comfortable with awkwardness.
I feel awkward at the thought that people might feel like they are walking on egg shells around me. But we must embrace that. It’s good for unsaved coworkers to learn restraint. If they feel like they’re walking on egg shells around you, good. You’re doing them a favor. Maturity is not how raunchy a person can be; it’s how much restraint one has. And they need to learn restraint in the name of professionalism. Somewhere along the way the world confused filthy talk with “adult language.” Frankly, adult language is restrained and proper. Adolescent language desires to say whatever it wants all the time. You are being a voice for maturity.
8. Turnabout is fair play.
Coworkers may insist that if you don’t like what they say you can leave the break room. Again, you shouldn’t have to. Will they leave if you start teaching the Gospel? No. They’ll complain to management. They may voice frustration that they should not have to stifle their personality or self-expression because of you. However, that’s a two way street. It feels strange to threaten the use of Scripture, but if they can talk openly about things that should remain private, I can quote Scripture. If they will not stop, then I will start. Be careful not to do this is a vengeful spirit. Instead take a calm and principled approach to speech. A debauched person's self-expression may be raunchy. But “Christian” is your identity. It permeates your life and self-expression. You are under no more obligation to stifle your personality than they say they are. Either we can all say anything or we can all say nothing. You may have to endure at times. But when you are led to speak out, do so with principles and an understanding of how free speech is not always free in a workplace. And if someone else claims free speech, so can you.
9. Invoke corporate policy and professionalism.
Morals improve societies and organizations. This is incontrovertible. Righteousness is not simply “your religion”. It is also practical. It makes things better. Whether people like it or not, old fashioned morals make a society better. America is finding this out good and hard, though most won’t admit it. If you must make a case to management for a moral workplace, be able to demonstrate how it makes a place more professional and attractive to clientele. This will take some study and prepared answers. Yes, I’m sure we can all cite Scripture to make our points, but Scripture itself is rife with examples, especially in Proverbs, of how righteousness habits and behaviors bring stability and prosperity generally speaking. I’ve often just put verses from Proverbs in my own words to make a point, and amazingly management finds these sensible. Natural law tells them that it’s right and ultimately better for business.
I’m certain there are many other things we could add to this list. It’s not exhaustive, nor are these laws. The application of these things may look different at your job than at mine. I trust and pray we can employ these simple things as a reminder to Christians around us that the Holy Spirit still restrains evil in this world. And He does is by using people like us who are willing to be courageous, strategic, and wise. And hopefully it will be a reminder to the world that the Lord still reigns.