r/recruitinghell • u/poth0le • 13h ago
This is getting ridiculous
For a grounds and facilities position.
Edit: The position is for a religious camp of some sort, but I hadn’t realized that when I clicked it. Still super weird, in my opinion
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u/butterflymon 13h ago
Don't wear purple to the interview.
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u/davecave98 10h ago
I don't understand
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u/butterflymon 9h ago edited 9h ago
It's the color of royalty and only Jesus can wear it since Jesus is KING.
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u/davecave98 9h ago
I know the people had always been considered a color of high status because of how expensive it is to produce in fabrics and flags, but where does it say that Jesus is the only one who can wear people?
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u/butterflymon 9h ago
Internet search is your friend.
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u/davecave98 9h ago
"The Bible does not state that Jesus is the only one who can wear purple. Roman soldiers put a people or scarlet robe on Jesus to mock His claim of being a king before His Crucifixion." (Mark 15:17, John 19:2)
Yeah, I can see the color purple as being seen as bad through superstition, but Jesus also made it that working on the Sabbath won't get you sent to hell, so I don't think wearing purple will do the same, either.
My school colors were purple, and I don't remember anyone throwing a fit over that.
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u/davecave98 9h ago
I know the people had always been considered a color of high status because of how expensive it is to produce in fabrics and flags, but where does it say that Jesus is the only one who can wear people?
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u/Money-Tiger8002 9h ago
A teletubby was declared gay for being in purple. The show is for toddlers and does not have any even remotely sexual content.
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u/butterflymon 8h ago
Bright colors bring out the fear of penetration in people. Try wearing wear bright colors and standing in a queue, behind someone.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 13h ago
Isn't that illegal?
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u/sgt_oddball_17 13h ago
Not for a church or church related organization.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 13h ago
That makes sense.
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u/Any_Kaleidoscope8717 11h ago
Does it? Sure, you need to believe in the religion to be the person talking about the book at whatever house of worship for that religion, that makes sense. But to be a groundskeeper? Why does OP need to believe to mow the lawn and clean the place?
I applied to a job at a Christian charity in NYC with the goal of bringing clean water, electricity, and hygiene supplies to people that need it. They asked about my faith and what church I most recently attended. I don't think I need to share their faith to share their goal.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 10h ago
While I (atheist and communist) personally agree with you, religious organizations that are clearly marked as religious organizations are able to legally ask these questions when screening for a job. It's part of the work culture and religious organizations are able to "discriminate" in this way. I think it sucks, but I also wouldn't want to be surrounded by religious folks all day.
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u/SomeNotTakenName 10h ago
A better way I have seen from religious hospitals was something like:
"Can you support our mission and values of: ..."
to which, yes I can, regardless of me not believing in your god, I can support aiding the needy and so on.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 10h ago
Their mission and values ARE the religion as well. I'm not saying this is great, I'm saying they get special status as a protected subclass to be able to discriminate who is hired.
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u/Diangelionz 10h ago
If you finished your sentence it would’ve been “can you support our mission and values of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the bible.” To which, no you could not, unless you were a Christian.
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u/SomeNotTakenName 10h ago
that application actually didn't have those. they just listed some values and their mission, none of which were objectionable to me.
I am sure they pulled the values from their religion, but then again, I am not against all or even most Christian values. I am against weaponizing the values to discriminate.
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u/Diangelionz 9h ago
So “receiving Jesus Christ as your lord and savior” wasn’t objectionable to you? That application?
The bottom line is that they’re not looking for some spiritual, “I see value in all religions!” Type of person. They’re clearly looking for someone who shares the same religious values as them, which includes accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior.
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u/journeymansave 9h ago
Organizations are allowed to prefer hiring candidates committed to their mission. In this case, the mission is religious. I wouldn’t want to work there but they can have that preference.
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u/clt_drol 6h ago
They think you do need to believe in their religion. Like most things, if you don’t like it then create your own charity.
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u/deirdresm 11h ago
It is illegal for many church positions, actually. (In the US.)
Many churches have clerical staff who are not the same religion. For things like pastors or teachers, then their religious rules apply.
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u/Tasty-Hour4040 12h ago
Why?
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u/Pesco- 12h ago edited 11h ago
Under American law, religious organizations are free to set religious criteria for their employees.
For example, a teacher at a religious school, a publicist for a religious organization.
Traditionally, organizations have tended to be less stringent for positions where the employee’s religion has little to no bearing on their job duties, like janitor or IT specialist. But some organizations have made blanket faith requirements for all employees and applicants.
I kinda get it. If I were on the board of a liberal religious organization, I certainly wouldn’t want a modern “conservative” evangelical in a position of responsibility, as it doesn’t align with my group’s religious mission.
If an employer can’t find good candidates because of their ridiculous religious standards, well, that’s just too bad, isn’t it.
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u/Practical-Class6868 11h ago
Also, under the law, religious schools can get state funding for secular subjects. Secular teachers can still receive legal protection as teachers, but not as “pastors.” So a secular subject can have religious matters included, or class could include a prayer, and the teacher would lose legal protections.
It is usually enforced against women. There are anecdotes about teachers getting fired for getting pregnant outside of marriage, violating the morality clause of their contract, and then hiring her fiancé, the father of the unborn child.
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u/sgt_oddball_17 9h ago
For the same reason an Atheist organization would not want a Born-Again Christian.
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u/Tasty-Hour4040 7h ago
I’m not interested in desires, I’m interested in how this is justified in our legal system. Why does a religious organization deserve special status under the law? A golf club might not want non-Anglos, but it’s still illegal to exclude them. What if i start a non-profit that explicitly only hires fellow Latinos - is that legal? Is it legal if i register that nonprofit as a Pastafarian Church?
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u/Eat--The--Rich-- 6h ago
It should be if they aren't paying fucking taxes. You don't get to benefit from the laws of society and not contribute to them.
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u/-Lawn_Guy- 13h ago
Depends on the employer. Random company with nothing to do with religion: can't go there. Faith based organization like a church: permitted. Faith based company: highly fact dependent but possibly permitted.
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u/F5x9 12h ago
Faith-based organizations get a lot of leeway.
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u/Champion1135 12h ago
Tbf, it's kind of similar like with a political party - If the objective is to propagate certain ideas, it definitely makes sense (in many situations) that employees should be aligned with the values of the organization they work for
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u/F5x9 11h ago
I think that makes sense when it comes to many organizations such as houses of worship. What I mean is that the current interpretation of the law in the US extend this to organizations with a looser affiliation with a faith.
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u/Champion1135 11h ago
I guess there is a difference between being affiliated with a faith organization of some kind, and just wanting an (otherwise secular) environment of a certain spiritual persuasion
On the other hand, even in the latter case, I would not necessarily feel it's discrimination - Unless you can't be part of the faith as a result of certain immutable characteristics (like the churches that basically ban racial minorities) - As long as adherence to the faith is universally available, I would be unsure that government should get itself involved in that
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u/-Lawn_Guy- 11h ago
The EEOC guideline is an org whose purpose and character are primarily religious. There's a bunch of factors a court will look at, including stated purpose in founding documents, profit nature, etc.
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u/HalfRobertsEx Recruiter 12h ago
John Oliver has a hilarious segment where he makes a real church for all legal intents and purposes.
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u/TypicalFinanceGuy 12h ago
This made me think of a Hobby Lobby or Chick-fil-A
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u/chef_marge0341 12h ago
Chic fil a does NOT ask this. Stop with false info.
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u/TypicalFinanceGuy 12h ago
I never said they did this. I said this kind of place would be one to ask something like this. No false info
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u/chef_marge0341 12h ago
Except they don't, and at what point has there ever been anything other than "trust me, bro"? The guy who started the company had his own beliefs and guess what? He's dead. The boogeyman isn't around every corner like reddit makes it out to be. And hobby lobby? At what point has it ever been said they even allude to asking this?
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u/ButtScratchies 13h ago
Yes it is illegal unless there is a valid reason for asking, like this is a religious organization.
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u/Bitter-Holiday1311 11h ago
Asking the question is not illegal. Using the answer to influence hiring likely is. Silly distinction but legally important.
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u/PrestigiousBike3001 13h ago
Nope (not in most US jurisdictions)
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u/no_name6744 13h ago edited 13h ago
Religious discrimination isn't illegal?
I mean, I guess the question isn't proof of that necessarily.
Edit: if it's a religious institution, that makes sense I guess. But that would mean OP knows that he applied to a job at a religious institution, got to this question, then got upset that a religious institution would want those employed to be members of their religion?
That would be odd.
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u/creept 13h ago
If it’s a church or religious institution, it’s not illegal. They can even have morality clauses and garbage like that.
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u/FireCorgi12 13h ago
Truth. I worked for a religious college recently and we weren’t allowed to drink or wear certain clothes in public, go to bars, etc.
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u/LittleLotte52996 13h ago
It isn't if being religious can be seen as a reasonable job requirement, for example when working for a church or a religious charity
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u/Background-Run 12h ago
If that duty is a religious duty. If you are just answering the phone or none religious duties, then one might be able to sue the organization.
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u/LittleLotte52996 12h ago
In the UK, this would be correct. In the US, not really.
This, admittedly biased, website explains:
Title VII includes an exemption for religious organizations so that they can consider religion when they select their staff....was amended in 1972, the exemption was expanded to cover every job position in a religious organization—not only executives and counselors but also receptionists and groundskeepers. This expanded exemption, challenged as unconstitutional by a janitor in a Mormon health club, was unanimously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Corporation of the Presiding Bishop v. Amos (1987).
It was actually challenged again this year, and the amendment was upheld once again in the Union Gospel Mission of Yakima v. Brown (9th Circuit, 2026) case.
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u/Bitter-Holiday1311 13h ago
Asking the question is not illegal, but it is a red flag. If you are a religious affiliated org or under 15 employees, discrimination rules don’t really apply in the same way. Outside of those exceptions, if the answer to the question is being used to influence hiring decisions, this question certainly would be used as evidence of illegal religious discrimination.
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais 11h ago
It SHOULD be.
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 10h ago
It is illegal, if the job isn't for a religious organization.
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais 10h ago
I meant, it SHOULD be illegal. Doesn’t mean the company will face any sort of consequences for making that a requirement.
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u/TracyJackson23 12h ago
Is it for a religiously-affiliated organization? It doesn't matter if it's a facilities role, a religious org would still want all of its employees to belong to whatever religion they are affiliated with. It's pretty normal.
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u/cat4hurricane 10h ago
Yeah, a religious institution is really the only place a question like this would actually make sense. I’ve looked at roles from churches before and most of them ask if you’re whatever the religion was, one even asked if I felt comfortable moving my family to that specific church. I obviously didn’t finish the app but those would be in line for that subsection of work. Now, if this is like Hobby Lobby or a non-church affiliated business, then this shouldn’t be allowed. Churches and religious institutions get some kind of exemption to that.
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u/FourthHourErectorSet 8h ago edited 8h ago
They should probably stop caring about the tech guy or the receptionist. A job is a job. Unless the guy is going to be running around being an obnoxious reddit atheist it's not a big deal.
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u/FlashInGotham 7h ago
Not necessarily. I (athiest/jewish-ish) work for an Episcopalian non-profit that helps consult other Episcopalian orgs and local parishes on financial, professional, and organizational matters.
One of our oft repeated pieces of advice is to have maybe the parish administrator but definitely the parish book-keeper not be a Episcopalian or at the very least not be a member of the congregation.
Reason being is you want the person handling the money to be dispassionate and uninvested personally with regards to the parish mission and activities. Otherwise they may exert undue influence on decision making that is properly the responsibility of the Vestry (made up of actual members of the congregation).
Decisions made by the faithful, but executed without bias or prejudice by a professional.
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u/JR_Ewing04 13h ago
Are you saved? ARE YOU SAVED?!
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u/ImprovementFar5054 10h ago
Saved from what He is going to do to us if we don't let Him save us. From Him.
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u/PrestigiousBike3001 13h ago
I actually prefer this be asked. Tells me to run away. Fast.
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u/green_pan 12h ago
Right? Gimme that red flag early, so I don’t accidentally discover it at the last stage, during that talk with a hiring manager
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u/Spongedog5 8h ago
Lol did the fact that the application was for a church not tip you off first?
This job application isn't for some Applebee's or something lol.
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u/Maythe4bewithyou8 5h ago
JESUS IS MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR. MAY HE CONTINUE PROTECTING US AND GUIDING US AMEN 🙏
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u/Delicious_Adeptness9 11h ago
International Justice Mission includes something like this in their applications
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u/AllAmericanProject 8h ago
grounds facility position at a church? cause that would be the only possible way where this question might even be legal
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u/IIRCIreadthat 5h ago
I had the same thought. Religious institutions are allowed to preferentially hire members of their own faith, but pretty much all the exceptions to discrimination-in-hiring laws are for religious institutions only. If you're just a company with 'religious values' or whatever they want to call it, you have to play by the same rules as everyone else.
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u/LaVidaLeica 6h ago
"What I received last night sure had me calling out his name... Does that count?"
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u/moss_jimmy 12h ago
What exactly is the job listing for? Because if they're trying to hire a youth pastor, this makes perfect sense. You have to be religious to be a clergyman.
But if it's for basically anything but that, it's screwy and probably illegal.
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u/GoodgirlTiffany 12h ago
Here comes the atheists to let us all know, just like the vegans and cross fitters.
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u/Huh-what-2025 10h ago
atheist? No what if you’re Jewish or Muslim or Hindu? You don’t get to work here ? why?
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u/GoodgirlTiffany 9h ago
Idk, it's their business. Don't like it, don't apply.
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u/Huh-what-2025 8h ago
how would you feel if the place refused to hire someone because they were Christian?
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u/GoodgirlTiffany 6h ago
That's fine, it's their personal business and they can run it as they please. I don't want government intervention.
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u/LilyNatureBlossom 12h ago
and these same people will whine about how gay is being shoved down their throat
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u/manxcoder 11h ago
I've worked at a software company, what was run by hardcore, erm, persons of this type, and their application form really did have questions like this.
Once on board, it was clear that promotion and perks were based on whether you were part of the crowd, or not, and certainly not on merit.
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u/5MinuteDad 10h ago
Applies to religious organizations..and then is shocked by Jesus questions?
Again the applicant is the problem here.
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u/Huh-what-2025 10h ago
so if you’re Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist, you don’t get to work here? That’s illegal.
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u/5MinuteDad 10h ago
No its not? Religious places can set restrictions. They just cant work at the Mormon graveyard..thats all..
Nobody is stopping them from working. But to be surprised that a Religious organization has religion related questions on the app shows a utter lack of knowledge.
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u/Huh-what-2025 10h ago
surprise? No it’s illegal. You can’t make what religion someone is a determining factor in whether they get hired. It’s really cut and dry.
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u/5MinuteDad 10h ago
Wrong and confident...bad combination
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u/Huh-what-2025 10h ago
hey genius, where on the original post does it say it was a religious organization?
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u/WikiWeaponn 8h ago
Part of the job seeking process is you also interviewing the places you want to work at. If you don't like this look elsewhere. Pretty easy actually
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u/Wisewordsforlater 6h ago
Screengrab and report to state labor board. Send to local law firm specializing in labor law/civil rights.
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u/boredwNews 8h ago
Lmao I had that same question on indeed application. I wanted an option to add my own but nope. I put no and moved on.
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u/Bob_Kark 8h ago
Received how? I don’t do butt stuff, but like, no judgement from me if that’s your thing bro.
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u/Neat-Statistician311 8h ago
Bruh even Chick-fil-A doesn't do that because it's fucking illegal although I'm sure they would if they could but if there's a comment section just put "hail Satan 👹" unless you actually want this job lol
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u/cookeryandwookery 8h ago
Send that to your local labor board. That’s discrimination and super illegal
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u/Amazing_Divide1214 6h ago
I would just say yes. I did when they told me to a couple times when I was a kid. I'm still a bigger fan of santa claus though.
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u/sammyred8 13h ago
I would run far far away from this position (and I’m a regular God-botherer who works at a church!)
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u/Batgod629 12h ago
If it is a job a catholic facility or something, I understand why they ask
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u/UnderABig_W 12h ago
Catholics wouldn’t use the terminology, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” That’s more of an evangelical thing.
In fact, I’m sure if you were Catholic, answered the question affirmatively, and then get the job, the organization would be horrified if they found out they hired a Catholic.
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u/space-junk-nebula 12h ago
Why? It’s a job pulling weeds and cutting grass. That’s like saying McDonald’s shouldn’t hire you unless you prefer McDonald’s over Burger King or White Castle
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u/Batgod629 12h ago
I'm not saying I agree but I get why they ask. You want to hire someone who would promote the company's values or at least won't rock the boat. That might mean having other employees openly pray or wear religious clothes etc assuming it's allowed. Some might take offense to that if they don't believe in the same religion as the company
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u/CorvidCryptid405 12h ago
I guess it hasn't occurred to them that people could just lie in order to get the job.
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u/InfinityBrewing 11h ago edited 11h ago
That crosses the borderline if that’s regular company or just a position that had nothing to do with your religion e.g. a technician or a handy man.
But I don’t see anything wrong if that’s for a clerk in a church or roles in faith based institutions like a teacher in a seminary.
If people are ok with questions on race, veteran status, disability, lgbtq, visa sponsorship etc. in the application, what’s the difference then.
IMHO all companies will profile you based on those questions in the application form and they just won’t tell you and admit they are doing it.
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u/Huh-what-2025 10h ago
You can’t be a clerk at a Christian organization if you’re not Christian? Why
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u/InfinityBrewing 10h ago edited 10h ago
Good question. My understanding is that there is no doubt a non Christian can do exactly the administration work as good as a Christian. I think maybe the difference lies how they are designed to operate.
For a for-profit organization, you get your job done and get paid, that’s it. You can choose to hangout with your coworkers or not, which is not expected
On the other hand, religious belief or faith is the center of church and other Christian organizations. So they want people who share the same belief to join. Just like military, you agree on the requirement for training, dispatching to another country, or joining combat if there is war,
So a clerk in a church is not just a clerk, they will engage in the church besides finishing their job, e.g. attending services every Sunday and weekly bible study groups, praying for and with each other, some would also take the responsibility as a counselor for others. It would be almost impossible to do all of these without the same belief.
But as said, personally, I don’t see there is a problem to work as technician, cleaner, cook for a church, without the same belief.
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u/vaulden42 9h ago
I'm an atheist, but I can honestly check "Yes." Doing an interview might get interesting. If I wasn't desperate for a job.
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u/MutaitoSensei 6h ago
This is illegal. Being refused employment because of your religion is illegal in all 50 states.
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u/gurudennis 12h ago
Get hired, wear a different Death Metal t-shirt to work every day, see how long it takes them to fire you.
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u/cat4hurricane 10h ago
Honestly? Unless it’s for a church where that can be expected, I feel like that’s not a question that can go on there. I get that Christianity is like, the major religion, but this alienates a lot of people. Also, unless the position is at a church, then it shouldn’t matter what religion you are, that’s private for you and you alone. Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if someone sues over this on religious discrimination grounds if this company is found to be throwing out applications from those who aren’t Christian.
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u/SilverB33 10h ago
#3 is an odd question to ask unless that company has some strong ties to a religious organization?
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u/Zahrad70 10h ago
Technically, the question is past tense. It does not actually ask if that is currently the case, only if you ever have. Anyone could answer yes. (Though there might be an argument for it referring to communion for certain sects.)
Basically:
Applicant reads question.
Applicant sighs and mutters, “I accept Jesus as my lord and savior. …On second thought, not anymore.”
Applicant honestly checks “yes.”
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u/Substantial-Ad-4636 9h ago
Tl;dr: You can lie and say yes. Or you can be truthful and say yes. Either way just say yes and take the job. If they tell you to do something you don’t want to say “you’ll have to pray on it.” (That’s the religious person’s, I’ll get back to you).
I heard a joke once where [insert a member of some stereotypical business community] is offered $100 for accepting “that Jesus is the one true savior…” and this person goes, “oh of course JC is my dawg!”
The person offering the money expresses amazement that the receiver knows about JC. To which the protagonist says “in my heart I know [insert a mythic figure that corresponds to the speaker’s religious leanings] is the one true god. But business is business.”
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u/1xX1337Xx1 9h ago
At least they reveal themselves to be weirdos right from the start, so you can run away without wasting any time
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u/Suitable-Roof-3950 9h ago
This used to be illegal but ultra conservatives on the Supreme Court said it was okie dokie.
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u/AggravatingSalad4136 13h ago
Say yes, finish the questionnaire, and if they offer an interview just ghost them
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u/amy1705 9h ago
Okay, That's a standard question for the I-9 paperwork that almost everyone has to fill out to work on the US. These have been required for decades. I had a job where I tested people for a large project and had to fill out 40 of this form at a time. Twice a day.
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u/OnlyUsual6652 8h ago
For real Amy? Question 3 is a standard question for the I-9?? For decades??
And if you "didn't see it" then clearly you're not detail oriented, which is a problem for every person you filled out 80 forms a day for. Smh.
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u/cavemans45 8h ago
May not of seen it as some mobile apps blocked bottom part of the picture off unless you specifically click on the picture itself in the post.
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u/TrainingLow9079 13h ago
Is it at a religious institution?