PRAISE the Lord and keep your job - Fired for not worshipping

[packman]

A 34-year-old man has filed an $800,000 lawsuit against a Albany construction company, claiming the owner fired him after he refused to attend weekly Bible study.

Ryan Coleman’s lawsuit states that he discovered only after he was hired as a painter for Dahled Up Construction that the job entailed more than just fixing up homes. According to Coleman and his lawsuit, owner Joel Dahl told him all employees were required to partake in regular Bible study sessions led by a Christian pastor during the work day, while on the clock.

Coleman told Dahl that the requirement was illegal, but Dahl wouldn’t budge, according to the lawsuit. In order to keep his job, Coleman obliged for nearly six months but ultimately told Dahl he couldn’t go, the suit says.


https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2018/08/lawsuit_oregon_construction_wo.html

[Girard442]

1. One wonders what Dahl would have done if Coleman attended every study session faithfully (heh)...

...but kept turning the discussion to atheism.


"If God can do everything, can he create a rock that's too heavy for him to lift?"

[procon]

2. Do we need a new law to protect the rights of those with deeply held

non religious beliefs? Forcing anyone to attend religious indoctrination is like syfy scary stuff.

[Major Nikon]

4. We already have them

Discrimination on the basis of religion includes the irreligious.

[procon]

8. With all the laws that make the rights of christians more worthy

than other religions and those who have no need of it, I can't say I would agree with your assertion.

[Major Nikon]

9. I know of no such law, let alone laws

As far as the subject at hand goes, employment discrimination laws are quite clear on the subject and any remaining ambiguity is addressed in all sorts of case law.

[procon]

16. Really?

For one such example, there is a notable exception to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that says religious organizations are allowed to discriminate on the basis of their religion. In other words, religious groups can discriminate against employees and even require workers to be a member of their particular religion and adhere to church tenets even though their work is not religious in nature.

Churches, schools, and other church-affiliated employers, can also force workers to sign statements that they will follow church law as a condition of employment, such as not becoming pregnant out of wedlock, or being gay, or having an abortion.

[Major Nikon]

22. That's not a law, that is a very narrow exception to another law

The same one that prohibits discrimination in the case described by the OP. So yes, the RCC isn’t required to hire Muslims as nuns. It also works exactly the same the other way. A synagogue isn’t required to hire catholic rabbis, so the exception doesn’t favor christians. And no, a carpentry company can’t force employees to be indoctrinated in their religion, by the same law.

[procon]

25. They deny women birth control and the reproductive rights,

that sounds pretty much like forced religious indoctrinate as a requirement to keep their job. The construction company owner is clearly in the wrong, but a church run business...???

[Major Nikon]

28. All of which fall under the same exception

...which isn’t unique to christians. All religious organizations can use the same exception to legally discriminate against their employees.

[malaise]

21. The Xtian Taliban

Scary

[ooky]

24. The first amendment provides this protection.

It protects both the right to worship or not to be bothered with others religions.

[Cartoonist]

3. On the clock

Probably legal then, but what do I know?

I would consider it a paid break. My comments would probably get me excused after awhile.

[Ilsa]

5. I wonder if it is in the job description? nt

[Major Nikon]

6. Not legal

Falls under harassment, hostile work environment. You can't be forced to be indoctrinated as a condition of employment. The boss better hope Jesus ponies up the 6-figure settlement.

[MineralMan]

7. In many states, you can be fired for just about any reason.

It will be interesting to see how this man's suit goes. I wouldn't work for that company, frankly.

[Major Nikon]

10. "just about" doesn't include illegal discrimination

This clearly falls under things you can fire people for.

Religious Discrimination And Employment Policies/Practices

An employee cannot be forced to participate (or not participate) in a religious activity as a condition of employment.

https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/religion.cfm

[MineralMan]

11. Making that stick, though, is the problem.

In the meantime, the individual still has to earn a living. It's not all that often that the eeoc manages to reverse such a firing, sadly. and the process takes a long, long time. Meanwhile people like that employer go right on breaking the rules.

I wish I had an answer. I don't.

[onenote]

14. What exactly do you think the employer's defense will be?

I don't think this is a hard case at all.

[MineralMan]

15. Claim some other reason.

That often works.

[MarcA]

18. Recalls the antebellum policy where the slave could decide which master owned him. n/t

[Major Nikon]

23. Almost without exception, due process takes time

This one is a sure loser for the company and they will be liable for lost wages, back pay, and lawyer fees at a minimum.

[onenote]

13. Illegal under title VII of the Civil Rights Act no matter what state law says.

SEC. 2000e-2. [Section 703]

(a) Employer practices

It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer -

(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or

(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Plus, most states, including Oregon, have laws that echo the federal prohibition on discriminating against employees based on religion.

[Doreen]

12. Oh, I would go but I would sit away from the group and be quiet and read books about Buddhism.

Fuck your religion you ass.

[Initech]

17. I had to look up this company.

Apparently they specifically recruit and target addicts (which is already sketchy as hell) and hired this guy straight out of a rehab stay. So they recruit and convert, that is no bueno.

[dembotoz]

19. wonder if they could mandate sessions if they billed them as like AA

sort of road to self sufficiency
the employment could perhaps be considered part of the therapy

[Initech]

20. I don't know.

My thing is that I am not cool with people who take advantage of vulnerable people. And people who are fresh out of rehab are some of the most vulnerable people out there. The problem that I especially have with this story is that religion preys on vulnerable people and tries to take advantage of people when they're at their worst. John Oliver has done a couple of good exposes on this practice, and none of them are good.

[dembotoz]

26. Yep

[NotASurfer]

27. So that company might as well post a sign on their door

that says "Catholics, Jews, and Muslims need not apply"

How very 1890 of them