Comments on: Losing a Job on Religious Grounds

By: stogoe

stogoe — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:33:01 +0000

It’s ridiculously easy to fire someone because you don’t like their religion or skin color and get away with it. Almost any retributive firing is easily disguised as a firing ‘for cause’.

It’s disgusting.

By: Katie Kish

Katie Kish — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:35:21 +0000

I was fired for being an atheist… Well, actually… I was about to go into my 7th summer working at a camp but before the season started they called me and informed me that I wouldn’t be welcome at the camp that year. When I asked why, they said they had googled my name and discovered I had atheist views and thus didn’t want those “values” distributed onto the kids…

And then when I blogged about it a few months later they tried to sue me for slander until I pointed out to them that they would be the ones in trouble for hiring based on religious beliefs… I haven’t heard from them since.

By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 23:23:14 +0000

if this guy hasn’t sued yet he definitely should. this is illegal and ridiculous

By: chooseDoubt

chooseDoubt — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:23:41 +0000

There are two issues with this.

The first is that having a right does not automatically mean that you are financially able to confront a violation of that right. In the Spanish system, assuming I had challenged and won, it would be a matter of years before any judgement was reached. The second is that I would have to prove that they wanted to remove me for that reason as opposed to another false reason given. It would have been a mess. They got rid of me, my ex-boss is happy. They had to compensate me, I’m relatively happy. On principal I would have preferred to fight but my principals don’t pay my bills and I have a life to get on with.

If I’d loved my job I’m sure it would have been different but now I’m quite cheerful not to be working with people with whom I’d need to have such fights.

By: olvlzl, no ism, no ist

olvlzl, no ism, no ist — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:56:20 +0000

I’m in Spain.

The European Charter of Rights doesn’t cover this kind of thing?

Article 21
Non-discrimination
1. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic
features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority,
property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.
2. Within the scope of application of the Treaty establishing the European Community and of the
Treaty on European Union, and without prejudice to the special provisions of those Treaties, any
discrimination on grounds of nationality shall be prohibited.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:49:51 +0000

I assume this kind of thing is relatively rare because most people don’t care about one’s beliefs, and atheists probably keep a low profile most of the time. I’m glad this person was able to get a settlement. Whenever possible, companies like this need to have their asses sued off. That’s the only message they understand.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:39:45 +0000

ChooseDoubt, as a believer I am appalled that anyone would treat you that way. As a fellow laborer I applaud your effort to make the best of it. Any time you can get paid to NOT work, it is a good thing.

By: Desert Son

Desert Son — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:24:16 +0000

ChooseDoubt,

Thank you for clarifying some of the situation. I, for one, assumed you were in the United States (and thus afforded the legal representation of same), so your post helps put the situation in some context.

No kings,

Robert

By: Mriana

Mriana — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:43:37 +0000

I find this so sad and when such things happen, it’s makes it harder for others to come out and say what they believe or rather don’t believe. You would THINK in the 21st century things like this should not matter, but it seems to still matter to the religious. Even the politicians are coming out and trying to reach the religious by talking about their faith, just so they can get elected or re-elected. It’s just not right.

With such beheviours, where does that leave others in the same boat? Stuck in the closet or hiding behind adjectives that they really don’t claim anymore or alike. Like I said, it’s rather saddening.

By: chooseDoubt

chooseDoubt — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:42:59 +0000

Hi,

I can’t give details as if I do I open myself up to legal action for violating the terms of my settlement. I can’t afford to do that and they knew that and that’s why I had to take the settlement instead of the fight. I’d have liked the fight but I don’t have the resources to handle it.

I’m not in the US. I’m in Spain. The legal process here is slow and it is very difficult to find good representation. I’m also looking on the bright side in that I hated my job anyway and so being paid to leave was actually quite a pleasant coincidence for me.

All the best,