Religious Intolerance?

[Cilantro]

I thought to ask you guys to see what you all think our course of action should be in this case.

Yesterday morning the manager from the place where my husband just got hired called. They let him go because he "didn't fit in." The reason that he "didn't fit in" is that he isn't Christian. This manager asked him the week before if he had "accepted Jesus Christ into his heart" and when DH said that he was not a Christian and that he would prefer not to talk about religion at work the guy responded with "Sorry, man, but you're going to he11."

The company is not even regulated by OSHA because the company is so small (7 or 8 employees at the most) and he wasn't there long enough to get unemployment. I'm just at a loss for words and I don't want this to happen to someone else. Most of all I want them to know that what they did was wrong.

[SerendipityCrafts]

In Canada we have labour boards that govern work places (no matter what the size). "Not fitting in" is NOT an acceptable reason to fire someone. Is there anything like this available to him?

Barring that, we could also contact the Human Rights Commision. Do you have anything like this?

Does he have any witnesses to what was said?

[Century Guy]

Amazing. *shakes his head*

He'd have a case to sue, but be sure that's all documented. People cannot be fired for their religion...though there are exceptions for things like Religion-specific "businesses" or ministries. For example, a Muslim school could not be forced to hire a Christian teacher (if teaching a religion class), or a Christian radio station couldn't be forced to hire an on air Hindu announcer or the like. (Which only makes sense.)

Ask your husband if he really wants to work in that sort of environment though. Is it worth the trouble? I'd find someone else better to work for.

[WebLady]

I don't really know what legal actions you can take with a small company like that, but I would definitely complain to someone. They cannot just fire someone because they don't share the same faith as you! Not that you'd want to work there anymore now anyway ... and why would they even ask?! But I would be willing to bet that the company would say there was another reason he was let go.

Regardless of your faith, I don't believe that religion should be discussed in the work place. Or here for that matter ;)

Sorry this happened to you; all the best :flower:

[mitch]

Geeeze that is up there with the Guy from London who was fired from McDonalds for having a Tattoo on his Backside. :bbeek:

I mean, i know some managers talk out of their arses. But did they think he was going to shove his arse on the counter and ask the customer if he "Wants Fried With That" :rofl:

But on a serious note. That is just so Wrong to fire someone over beliefs. Does that mean i can't get a job anywhere in America or Europe because i'm Church Of ENGLAND!

Here in the UK it doesn't matter how many people are on the payroll within a Company. Discrimination in the workplace is dealt with swiftly. Even if it is from a company of One Person.

[Cilantro]

I couldn't agree more, Brandi! It's not something that I have ever talked to anyone about that wasn't a close friend or family member. I don't think that there is much that can be done. I'm sure there will be another reason for the termination, but it's just a big bowl of wrong.

[acidcookie]

WHAT! That is totally inappropriate. No one should have even asked if he "accepted Jesus Christ into his heart" at the workplace. This has nothing to do with work! That is flat out discrimination and not legal. And telling him he's going to hell (regardless of anyone's belief) could surely stand as harassment. That is ridiculous, I am pissed off for you!

[Scrwballsgrl]

I don't really know what legal actions you can take with a small company like that, but I would definitely complain to someone. They cannot just fire someone because they don't share the same faith as you! Not that you'd want to work there anymore now anyway ... and why would they even ask?! But I would be willing to bet that the company would say there was another reason he was let go.

Regardless of your faith, I don't believe that religion should be discussed in the work place. Or here for that matter ;)

Sorry this happened to you; all the best :flower:

okay to elaborate, I thought I could fit it all in the "reputation" part:grinhappy:
I meant to say the work environment is not the place to push your beliefs on someone else OR anywhere else for that matter.

Okay sorry just didn't want to leave the thought unfinished:)

[WebLady]

I couldn't agree more, Brandi! It's not something that I have ever talked to anyone about that wasn't a close friend or family member. I don't think that there is much that can be done. I'm sure there will be another reason for the termination, but it's just a big bowl of wrong.Yeah, unless you can prove discrimination was the reason they let him go, there may not be much you can do. But yeah big bowl of wrong!

It is sad that there are these type of fundamentalist people out there giving others of their faith a bad name.

[Nekochanpurr]

Thats sad. Most Christians aren't like that. :( This could end up a blessing in disguise, though.. I mean, he might find better people to work for and stuff.. Dunno, trying to look on the bright side for you.

[RosieAngel]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I wish I had some good advice besides... hmm... from my limited experience there, the Austin area seems a lot more accepting of different races, religions, etc. than the rest of Texas. Can your FH find some work near there?

Good luck, you're in my thoughts. :heart:

[Cilantro]

Thanks. I've contacted the ACLU and am waiting to hear back from them. Austin is a lot more expensive to live than where we are now.. And it's really far from our family. We can't really afford to move right now, either.

It's so frustrating that there are loopholes for this kind of ****. :(

[kgvettegirl]

Thanks. I've contacted the ACLU and am waiting to hear back from them. Austin is a lot more expensive to live than where we are now.. And it's really far from our family. We can't really afford to move right now, either.

It's so frustrating that there are loopholes for this kind of ****. :(
There are not loopholes. The Constitution states that we have "Freedom of Religion" not "Freedom from Religion". That being said it is not a companies privilege to select their employees by their religious affiliation unless they are a church, synagogue or temple. It is against the law to require that any employee must follow a certain religion as a condition of working there, or must participate in any services or bible studies unless that business is a church. It does not matter how small or large a company is. If they hire people other than family, they have to obey the laws of your state and Federal hiring practices.

[Cilantro]

There are not loopholes. The Constitution states that we have "Freedom of Religion" not "Freedom from Religion". That being said it is not a companies privilege to select their employees by their religious affiliation unless they are a church, synagogue or temple. It is against the law to require that any employee must follow a certain religion as a condition of working there, or must participate in any services or bible studies unless that business is a church. It does not matter how small or large a company is. If they hire people other than family, they have to obey the laws of your state and Federal hiring practices.
Well, if I'm reading it correctly, the law applies to companies with more than 15 employees... So yeah, there are no legal grounds. :(

[kgvettegirl]

Ok here is the link to the EEOC for Religious discrimination regulations.

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html

[Cilantro]

Ok here is the link to the EEOC for Religious discrimination regulations.

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html
THANK YOU! :)

ETA: This says 15 or more employees too. :(

[kgvettegirl]

THANK YOU! :)

ETA: This says 15 or more employees too. :(
So find out how many employees they have currently and I would also check to see if there is a history of this with this company. Maybe you can't get him for discrimination but you can sure make it hot for him to continue doing this to people.

[RevMatty]

Sorry your hubby is going through this. (He's joined the same club I'm basicly in) Fedral laws are strict in regards to religion (His situtation is a lot diffrent then mine, he got fired over religion, and I'm trying to retain my rights to religion)
My advice is this, do lots of research. Here's one site to check out frist (click here) (http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/C7AB0D98-9438-47D2-8D68115009B87244/catID/de34c24c-9cbe-42ef-917012f2f6758f92/111/259/283/ART/) and if I may suggest the US Suppreme Courts site (HERE) (http://www.uscourts.gov/) Alot of info is out there on the net, (law libraries, court rulings, etc.) and it's helped me out a bit in my battle to keep my clergy status, as protected by the constitution.
If all else fails, call a lawyer.


I hate religious intolerance and discrimnation.

[Cilantro]

So find out how many employees they have currently and I would also check to see if there is a history of this with this company. Maybe you can't get him for discrimination but you can sure make it hot for him to continue doing this to people.

There are 7 or 8 at the most. Definitely not 15. I'll check into those things. Thanks for the advice. :)

[gwenshack]

I was so fired up that I didn't read all the responses, so forgive me if somebody else has said this already, but I'm quite certain that they can't even ASK your religion in an interview - I'm 99% sure that's against the law. I'm pretty sure there are discrimination laws concerning race, religion, and sex.

Get a lawyer. Please!

[Whitewater]

I've been fired from every job I've ever had -- because I didn't "fit in". That phrase now makes me tremble and regress right back to, oh, about 4 years old. I have a neurological deficit that does not allow me to conform to society. I just come off as 'wierd' to people -- but there's nothing I can do about it.

Tell me about discrimination!!!! My disability is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (and I even have the paperwork to PROVE that I've been diagnosed and everything!) but because it's something that a potential employer doesn't want to deal with, I don't really have success at work.

It's very easy for somebody who's hiring to pick somebody other than me.

I don't know what to do about this either. But I stand with the OP in that these kind of things are wrong! Firing somebody because they don't fit in should be as big a crime as selling drugs, in my opinion. They should get Federal agents involved! It's really wrong.

Unfortunately, as the rules stand, there's nothing we can do about it. In the OP's case, the company is too small to have to obey the rules, and in my case, I can't get anybody to take me seriously.

Man, I dunno.


Whitewater

[Cilantro]

Oh, Whitewater! That's awful! :( I've had a hard time working in the past due to my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have gotten fired for crying at work.

[SerendipityCrafts]

I got fired once for not being "ethnic" enough <<<<<<< seriously, those were the words the boss used.

Apparently he believed that to be a successful designer, one must struggle for the craft and so as a middle class WASP who grew up in the burbs, he didn't think I had it in me. :irked:

[Going2BeMrsEshraghi]

If you have a witness, or even without (depending on state laws), I would sue the hell out of that company for harassment and discrimination.

I have talked about religion at work before, and while I have worked with people of different faiths, nobody was EVER fired, laid off, hours reduced etc.. based upon their personal preferences.

I would also let the local media know what happened so that more attention is drawn to the issue, and so that the people of your community can support you.

That is truly ridiculous. I am not religious at all, and if I was a boss who had an employee that was a "bible thumper" (pardon the phrase...) I wouldn't fire them, nor would that thought even cross my mind.