Attempt To Recruit Christian Workers Violates State And Federal Law

[SecularMotion]

The director of operations of a Subway franchisee, in West Virginia, sent letters to several churches and congregations saying his company was “in need of Christian employees.” I’m sure some people will not see the problem with such a letter, after all a business should be able to make hiring decisions that prefer a particular group of people. Some may think the guy was just trying to reach out to a segment of people to recruit more workers. The problem is that such outreach is actually against state and federal law.

Kermit Ball, the director of operations for Hammond Group Inc., which owns the Subways, sent the letter, publishing employment opportunities at the restaurants. It was sent to at least four churches and congregations in the Charleston and Huntington areas.

The letter, and subsequent statements from Ball, seem to imply that Hammond Group Inc. would prefer to hire Christian employees, finding them more honest.

The letter, in part, reads: “Due to changing times, we are looking for good honest people. If you have anyone in your congregation in need of a job, or new career, please have them contact us at the address provided above. We are looking for sandwich artists, shift managers, assistant managers and supervisers. The Hammond Group owns and operates 20 Subway restaurants. We are a Christian based company and in need of Christian employees.”

http://www.secularleft.us/archives/2013/08/yes-attempt-to-recruit-christian-workers-violates-state-and-federal-law.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SecularLeft+%28Secular+Left%29

[rug]

1. Patently illegal.

[tanyev]

2. And what "changing times" do you mean, Mr. Ball?

Hmmmm?

[LiberalFighter]

3. If Christians are so honest than why are the majority of those in prison Christians?

[rug]

5. It's foolish - at least - to use prison demographics to describe a group.

[LiberalFighter]

11. Why?

It is more foolish to say that Christians are morally better than those without or of another religion.

[rug]

16. What conclusions do you draw based on the racial makeup of prisoners?

Answer your own question.

[LiberalFighter]

17. Where did race come into the question?

[rug]

18. It's part of demographics. You cannot selectively use characteristics.

[LiberalFighter]

19. It wasn't the demographics you were questioning or part of the topic.

[rug]

21. You were the one bringing up a prison population to make a spurious point.

If you bring something up, don't be surprised at what comes up with it.

[cbayer]

9. Where do you get that information? Is it different than the general population?

What is the percentage of those with other religious beliefs or no religion in prison? Is it different than the general population?

[LiberalFighter]

12. Source

http://www.pewforum.org/2012/03/22/prison-chaplains-perspectives/

[cbayer]

13. That's where I thought you got it.

You might not want to use this particular set of stats to make your point. Since approximately 76% of americans identify as christian, this data would show that they are underrepresented in the prison population.

FWIW, I think this data is faulty anyway. It was obtained from prison chaplains and is not true demographic data (which, IIRC, is not publicly available).

[Jim__]

14. The article explicitly states: cannot provide an accurate estimate of religious affiliation ...

The Pew Forum survey also asked each chaplain to estimate the approximate percentage of inmates in the prison(s) where he or she works that identify with each of 12 religious groups. Of course, some chaplains may have quite a bit of knowledge and others rather little knowledge about the religious preferences of inmates. And, even if chaplains had perfect information about the relative distribution of religious groups among inmates, these findings are not weighted in proportion to the size of each prison’s population and thus cannot provide an accurate estimate of religious affiliation among the U.S. prison population. Nonetheless, these findings offer an impressionistic picture of the religious context in which chaplains work.

Also, an interesting note from the Appendix C:

[jmowreader]

20. Probably because the majority of those in American society align with Christianity

[Jenoch]

4. It is illegal

to deny employment due to the religious affiliation of the applicant. Is it illegal to HIRE someone because of their religious affiliation?

[rug]

6. Bcause it simultaneously denies employment to someone in a protected class.

Assuming more than one person applied.

[Jenoch]

7. I don't think assumptions

would have a legal standing.

I remember a Seinfeld episode where Elaine got upset because she thought Monk's was only hiring big-breasted waitresses. It turned out they were all daughters of the owner.

[rug]

8. If a lawsuit was filed, that assumption would need to be backed by evidence.

For purposes of this post, an assumption will do.

Besides, Elaine was too unstable to be a waitress.

[cbayer]

10. This seems obviously illegal.

[hrmjustin]

15. Highly illegal and immoral.

[gopiscrap]

22. Yeah it's illegal!