Ohio state workers told to drop religious e-mail postscripts

July 31, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio (RNS) Fed up with the religious aphorisms employees have been attaching to their e-mail, the Ohio Department of Taxation has threatened to discipline workers whose postscripts wish the recipient a blessed day.

"There is a continuing trend to voice personal views as part of a salutation immediately before or after the sender's name," William Cort, internal audit administrator, wrote in an e-mail sent to department employees July 25.

"These include sayings, proverbs, personal advice or are sometimes religious in nature. As this is a business environment, the preferable ending is a one- or two-word acknowledgment, the person's name, title and contact information."

Samples of postscripts to e-mail intercepted by Cort include one from an employee in the commercial activity tax division that says: "May God continue to bless you and keep you from all hurt, harm and danger. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen."

Another postscript to an e-mail sent by a tax commissioner agent says, "Deuteronomy 30:15-19 Choose Life." An e-mail from a third sender ends: "May the Sweet Holy Spirit Lead and Guide you all day long!"

Department spokesman Gary Gudmundson said Cort issued the threat because employees ignored an earlier warning.

"The department feels that people have received a policy that prohibits this sort of usage of state equipment and that it continues to go on," he said. "Bill is pretty vigorously restating the policy and giving staff a heads-up that, from this point forward, discipline will be a consequence."

Cort also warned employees to quit sending chain letters, whether they include religious content or not.

-- Ted Wendling