Worker says he was fired from supermarket chain because he is Muslim

[alp227]

Source: CNN

A former Whole Foods Market employee says he was fired because he is Muslim.

Glenn Mack Jr. told reporters Tuesday that he experienced harassment by his supervisors because of his Islamic faith, resulting in his termination.

A spokeswoman for the natural-food supermarket chain said the company denied Mack's allegations.

Mack, 24, started working for Whole Foods in 2008. He was terminated in February 2011 for absenteeism, said his lawyer, Amara Chaudhry, with the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/08/us/pennsylvania-muslim-fired/index.html

[Enthusiast]

1. Bigotry, brought to you by the U.S. right wing.

[Rebubula]

2. Before you jump to conclusions...

...perhaps you wait for all the facts.

I used to manage a bookstore. I had a young man of the christian faith (was very happy to preach to you or judge you)that was rude to customers and almost always late. I terminated him after several warnings. He filed a complaint based on the same charges as the young man in this story.

Sometimes, regardless of so-called religion, people are assholes.

The Whole Foods that I sometimes shop at (cannot afford very often, but they have such an epic meat and seafood department) have several people of obvious islamic faith and two are in supervisory roles.

Knee jerk reactions do no one any good.

[LanternWaste]

7. I don't think that reacting to the information

"Knee jerk reactions do no one any good...."

I don't think that reacting to the information presented in a news story is 'knee-jerk'.

[Marrah_G]

3. There really aren't enough fact in the story to form an opinion

Just a he said story. I hope it's not true, but sadly if it is, it's probably not that uncommon :(

[lbrtbell]

4. He ought to try being Wiccan

Muslims are treated with kid gloves in comparison.

[MedicalAdmin]

5. It could be true.

In fact I think it more likely than not. I was once fired for not being born in the USA (just post 9-11 and I had spoken up about the Iraq war drum beating). When I asked why my contract wasn't being renewed I was told that they don't cotton to foreigners bad mouthing America. Of course this was a private conversation so there was no recourse. I took my last paycheck and left.

On the whole I'm much happier now.

[provis99]

6. if it was prejudice, why did they hire him in the first place?

I don't buy this guy's argument.

[LanternWaste]

8. There was never any written or verbal question...

There was never any written or verbal question in regards to my religious faith or lack of it when I was hired at the company I work for.

Is it now standard to inquire after that?

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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