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this is the button i wear to work

At 10/28/09 05:18 PM, ChocEliteBar wrote: I've got a feeling Home Depot is fucked on this one. I just know it.

"That's not our place to say, which is exactly why we have a blanket policy, which is long-standing and well-communicated to our associates, that only company-provided pins and badges can be worn on our aprons."

This guy has no recourse. When he signed on at Home Depot, he agreed to ALL the terms and conditions of employment, which included this no-buttons-except-company-approved-ones policy. The Home Depot is a private firm, and in the private sector, companies are allowed to make whatever distinctions and rules they want to promote a better and more cohesive work environment, provided they violate no federal laws.

Since the rule was laid out in plain English, and this guy clearly violated it, he will lose the lawsuit. This is not religious discrimination, because the employee was hired-on without any hint of religious persecution at the same rate and under the same assumptions as his fellow employees. His refusal to comply with policy that was communicated simply to him is grounds for termination of employment.

In england, we say badge, so you can work out why I was expecting an intricate story about a button which enables you to play god.

This is some serious bullshit.

At 10/28/09 06:48 PM, Dromedary wrote: In england, we say badge, so you can work out why I was expecting an intricate story about a button which enables you to play god.

I was expecting something to do with computers. Like he'd come up with some kind of 'god mode' and assigned a god button on the computers at his workplace.

Private companies can set their own standards.

I am patriotic, but still have never been too fond of the whole "god" and "america" bullshit.

At 10/28/09 05:18 PM, BananaBreadMuffin wrote: There's no real infringement on his rights other than his right to be a dick to his employer and REFUSE TO TAKE OFF A FUCKING BAGE FROM HIS SHITTY APRON.

True, I also think he's a dipshit for thinking believing in God is loving one's country.

oh so what, the pin was god on it, even though it's a quote from the pledge of allegiance, it's "offensive"

Complete bull.

Well if it was that big of deal, he wouldn't have been able to get away with wearing that button for a year. so i think it's somewhat of an overreaction by home depot.

The only thing he can say in his defense is that they told him to remove the button when he brought a Bible to work.

If a private company wants to convey a certain image to the public, doing so through their representatives (employees) is but one method and subsequently they have the right to dictate exactly how the employee will behave/appear to potential customers.

I don't see what there is to dispute here. The man knew what he was doing when he signed a contract which waived certain rights of his to the company. This has nothing to do with the company 'taking offence', who should of 'respected his beliefs', as certain posters have mentioned so far..

The first amendment says that CONGRESS can make no law limiting the freedom of religion. The wallmart corporation, on the other hand, can do so freely.

um... guy's

I think the original idea of the thread was to talk about Home Depot and religious discrimination

At 10/28/09 08:00 PM, naronic wrote: um... guy's

I think the original idea of the thread was to talk about Home Depot and religious discrimination

The OP ranted.

There is no religious discrimination, the company says that they don't allow employees to express such personal beliefs.

STFU GTFO.

At 10/28/09 05:22 PM, estrago1 wrote: What's that say about the clothes you wear? Do they have to be "company-approved" as well?

Uh, yes, ever wondered why when you go to Best Buy, everyone that works there wears the same thing? Yeah, that's not a coincidence, it's a uniform.

At 10/28/09 05:14 PM, starownage3 wrote: that is complete bullshit. they are just retarded. btw, if your atheist just let him worship in peace. we all have our own beliefs. we don't need to complain about other peoples.

This.
Hell, I'm an aethist and for one think the whole God thing is a complete load of bullshit, but whatever you want to believe - However false - Is your right. I don't burn churches because I don't believe in them, I just avoid them like the plague.
So that's what they should do if they don't agree with him.
Just shun him, and he'll either continue working or quit on his own.

I wonder if this would be such a big deal if he was wearing a button that said "smoke weed every day."

They don't care what his religion is, the company just doesn't want their employees wearing things that convey messages that aren't related to the company, and it's up to the company to decide what those things are then those people are on their time clock. They probably just didn't notice the button until now.

That conversation probably went something like this;

Management: " Mr. Keezer, it just came to our attention that you are wearing buttons on your apron that are not issued by home depot, I'm afraid we have to ask you to remove it."

Keezer: "NO! NO! NO! NO! YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE GOD AWAY FROM ME AND OUR GREAT NATION, THIS IS RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION!"

Management: "Mr. Keezer, please, it's nothing personal, this is a policy that was printed in the dress code even before you were hired, we have to ask you to remove the pin."

Keezer: "IF I CAN'T WEAR THIS BUTTON HOW CAN I BE SURE GOD KNOWS I STILL LOVE HIM? NO, THIS ISN'T RIGHT! THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GOD BLESS THE USA, THESE COLORS AIN'T RUUUUUUN!"

Management: "Look, if you don't comply we have to terminate your employment. We'll give you until the end of your shift to decide whether or not your job is worth more than a button."

Keezer: "FAT CHANCE!"

They didn't tell him he wasn't allowed to believe in God or worship on his own time (or even in his own mind while he was working. There's nothing stopping you from praying silently while you work.) They didn't even ask him to stop bringing his bible to read during his breaks. They just asked him to remove a button from his apron. I think God and the US could deal with that for 8 hours a day on a few days a week.

Lawsuits like this are bullshit. We have to do what we have to do to get money, and if that's dressing the way "the man" at Home Depot tells you to dress then you do it. If you don't want to comply then start looking for another job. There's no harm done here, no suffering, just some kid blowing this shit out of proportion to get all he can out of it.

At 10/28/09 08:06 PM, VhsTapeclock wrote: Just shun him, and he'll either continue working or quit on his own.

That would just result in him suing them for being unfairly treated at work.

At 10/28/09 05:14 PM, starownage3 wrote: that is complete bullshit. they are just retarded. btw, if your atheist just let him worship in peace. we all have our own beliefs. we don't need to complain about other peoples.

How would you feel if I wore a shirt that said, "There is no God." in big red letters?

You can believe what you want, but don't force it upon others.

Shows him right for going against the 'man'.

If I were him I wouldn't mind. At the veryu least he'll get enough money from the court case to sustain himself until he gets a new job.

The manager is probably some raging atheist faggot.

I agree with you though, it's supposed to be the land of the free, not "fire your workers because I don't believe in that religion".

At 10/28/09 05:18 PM, BananaBreadMuffin wrote:

At 10/28/09 05:10 PM, slingshot14 wrote: Story here.

I, for one, think this is bullshit.

Thing is though, they in no way have to let him wear it because they're a private company, the fir-

The thing is though, you're from a bullshit nanny state that doesn't let you cough without a tax for it.

Freedom of speech should be universal, no matter the company you work for/school you go to/gender you fuck/etc.

At 10/28/09 07:37 PM, All-American-Badass wrote: Well if it was that big of deal, he wouldn't have been able to get away with wearing that button for a year. so i think it's somewhat of an overreaction by home depot.

I got the impression that they had been telling him for that long and fired him after he failed to take it off for that long. I still think it's an over reaction, just for different reasons.

This is the epitome of hilarity. So much, it was literally beyond laughter. No kidding. I didn't laugh, but I felt that I was gonna die in my sleep just remembering this.

At 10/28/09 08:49 PM, Fistbeard wrote: The thing is though, you're from a bullshit nanny state that doesn't let you cough without a tax for it.

Irrelevant.

Freedom of speech should be universal, no matter the company you work for/school you go to/gender you fuck/etc.

The employee in question had every right not to work at that place. He chose to work there and agreed to adhere to their uniform policy. Either you are failing to understand that, or you fail to understand the concept of free speech.

At 10/28/09 05:10 PM, slingshot14 wrote: Story here.

. If I were that man I'd sue Home Depot. I don't give a fuck if people get mad or whatever, that guy has a right to express his beliefs. Next thing you know, they're gonna ban tortillas from Mexico. It's an outrage I tell ya, an outrage.

/rant/

How come whenever Isomeone mentions Home Depot they also mention Mexico

At 10/28/09 09:09 PM, ChickenReaper wrote: How come whenever Isomeone mentions Home Depot they also mention Mexico

Have you been to any Home Depot in Texas or California?

You know what? I'm not surprised, the world is full of hypocritical assholes.

At 10/28/09 08:49 PM, Fistbeard wrote:

At 10/28/09 05:18 PM, BananaBreadMuffin wrote:

At 10/28/09 05:10 PM, slingshot14 wrote: Story here.

I, for one, think this is bullshit.

Thing is though, they in no way have to let him wear it because they're a private company, the fir-

The thing is though, you're from a bullshit nanny state that doesn't let you cough without a tax for it.

Freedom of speech should be universal, no matter the company you work for/school you go to/gender you fuck/etc.

This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Nobody is condemning him for what he believes and nobody is persuing legal action against him because of anything his buttons conveyed. He had the right to do what he did and he did it. The company had the right to fire him because he signed a contract binding him against doing it and he did it anyway. That's the end of it.

Come on man, this is basically the same as the lazy man who cries "They fired me 'cuz I'm BLACK!" Then you look into it more and find that he was always late to work, he never completed all of the tasks he was given each day, he was a poor customer service agent, he gave his friends free merchandise when they came in, etc... It had nothing to do with race, but he knows if he makes it out that way someone will be behind him.

It's all bullshit. Like I said, he probably lost his job more due to his own stubbornness in keeping that button on his apron than what the button actually said. What a way to lose your job...