Is this a case of religious discrimination?
October 29th, 2009 at 11:56am Pat Cunningham
 
 Here’s the situation:
 Home Depot has a policy that only company-provided pins or badges may be worn by employees on their work aprons.
 A guy who works at a store in Florida was fired for insisting on wearing a pin that says “One nation under God…indivisible.”
 Were the guy’s religious rights violated?
 I’m inclined to agree with the last sentence in THIS PIECE about the episode.
Entry Filed under: religious discrimination
14 Comments Add your own
1. SNuss | October 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Unless the guy was trying to convert customers to Christianity, while working, I\’d have to say firing him was overkill.
2. joe | October 29th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Firing him was overkill? What should happen with a worker that doesn’t listen when warned? The kid is a boob.
3. realfoxnews | October 29th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
after2-3 warnings and also bring his bible to work with him and reading it in the lunch room. What Pat forgot to put in the Article
4. Neftali | October 29th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Mr. Keezer deserved to be fired. The workplace is not the area to be projecting your personal beliefs, whether it be political or religious or whatever. He has no case.
5. QuentinK | October 29th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I bet if this had been a Wiccan star or Islamic pendant instead of a veiled christian reference the radio supporters would have been fewer. Also I fully support his right to read the bible (or Koran) at lunch but NOT preach or lecture. I read “Evolution of Species” without any comments or disruption.
Also the pledge of allegiance is a quote and is as follows:
I pledge allegiance to my flag and (to) the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
6. expdoc | October 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Work place policy is work place policy, if he didn’t like it he should have gone somewhere else.
7. Milton Waddams | October 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Just as freedom of speech doesn’t exist in the workplace, neither does freedom of religion. This is not a case of discrimination, the rules were very clear and specific. Frivolous lawsuit that should be thrown out.
8. echo4charlie | October 29th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
If this policy was in place when he applied, interviewed and accepted the job, then it was and is listed in his employee handbook (or what have they). He asked to work there, and has to obey their workplace rules. He agreed to their terms and conditions for employment with Home Depot upon accepting the job (for which he applied), and cashing his first paycheck. Which, by the way, smells like what this kid is after: A (litigious) payday.
I’m afraid that I do, respectfully, disagree with the above stated quote from the Pledge of Allegiance stated above. The Pledge of Allegiance that I grew up reciting in school, through my military service, and into present day recites as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the flag or the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
That’s been the pledge for over two centuries, and should not change now. And the term “under God” can be interpreted as reference to whatever each individual recognizes as God (or a god).
9. Pat Cunningham | October 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
EchoCharlie: You say: “That’s been the pledge for over two centuries, and should not change now.”
Sorry, but you’re wrong. The Pledge is only 117 years old, and has been changed four times over the years. The part about “under God” was added when I was in grade school.
Here’s a good history of the Pledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
10. QuentinK | October 29th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
echo the pledge of allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy in honor of Columbus’s 400th anniversary of crossing the Atlantic. It was used to promote the Columbian exposition in Chicago, The event that gave the city the title of ‘the windy city’.
Pat is right. The term ‘under god’ was added in the 50’s as a direct repudiation of communism.
I respect your rights to view the new version as you will but history should NEVER be altered by either side. That indeed is dangerous.
11. George | October 29th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Looks like someone else trying to get his 15 mins for doing absolutely nothing. Does this kid have access to a weather balloon, maybe he can angle for a reality TV spot. If the code is specifically laid out in their employee manual, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, and should be ashamed for even bringing attention to the matter. Quit whining, move on and get over it.
12. richard | October 29th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
NO!!
13. shawnnews | October 29th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I thought Home Depot was one of the places you have to sign a company arbitration policy to work at — waive any lawsuit and follow company arbitration. I doubt if he has a case.
Places that have public contact with customers like a shopping area usually have some sort of dress code. I hope he’ll learn his lesson swiftly and find a new job where he can dress hopw he likes or is more compliant with work place rules.
14. echo4charlie | October 30th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I did not know these facts about the Pledge of Allegience, and stand corrected.
Like they say on NPR: You learn something new everyday!
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