Walmart Fires Worker - Wore Priest's Shirt, Arab Headress & 6 Crosses

[matcom]

<snip>

BOERNE — Daniel A. Lorenz regularly wore a collared shirt to work, but it clearly wasn't the type expected in the Wal-Mart Supercenter's dress code.

He says he was fired last week upon reporting for duty in his priest's shirt with Roman collar, an Arab headdress and six crosses.

Supervisors had warned Lorenz that his job was at risk over his appearance, which they said violated dress codes and upset customers and fellow workers, particularly Catholics.

But Lorenz, 20, ignored requests to shed the shirt and collar — the main bones of contention — claiming they reflect his unique spiritual beliefs.

"I told them that would be like turning my back on God, and I couldn't do that," said the Pipe Creek man whose religious fervor was fueled by a 2001 trip to Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA08.03B.walmart_firing_03-04.434eb731.html

[GOPisEvil]

1. Ahhhh...my home area...

There's a great cafe in Pipe Creek. The Pipe Creek Junction Cafe. Great Friday night catfish frys during the summer.

It is home to some free-spirited individuals. :D

[CanuckAmok]

2. That's just typical of Wal*Mart...

Oh, sure, they'll happily sell you priest shirts, clerical collars, arab headdresses, and crosses, but they won't let you wear them to work...

[Bill McBlueState]

3. from the article

"the professionalism and corporate identity that customers expect."

Aren't "professionalism" and "the corporate identity of Wal-Mart" mutually exclusive? :shrug:

Anyway, it should be interesting to hear the company's arguments as to how it determines what is valid religious expression and what isn't.

[Bunny]

4. Well, as much as I dislike Walmart, I think the guy's clothes

are a little over the top to wear for work. On his own time, fine. But to work?

I'm just saying...

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

5. Only Wal-Mart brand Christianity ® can be displayed...