A Florida man is planning to sue hardware giant The Home Depot, after he was
fired from his cashier job for wearing a pin that said "One Nation Under God, indivisible." "I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country," Trevor Keezer said.
Keezer said he started wearing the button to the store in Okeechobee, Florida in March 2008. He said no one every said anything. But when he started bringing a Bible to work last month and reading it during his lunch break, Keezer said his bosses told him he would have to remove the button. When he refused, Keezer was fired.
"It feels kind of like a punishment, like I was punished for just loving my country," Keezer said.
But The Home Depot disputes that, saying he was fired for violating the company's dress code.
"This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs. The issue is not whether or not we agree with the message on the button," spokesman Craig Fishel said. "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."
Fishel said Keezer was offered a company-approved pin that said, "United We Stand," but he declined. Keezer said said he wore the button to honor his country and his brother, who is in the
National Guard and is set to report in December for a second tour of duty in
Iraq.
Keezer has retained a lawyer, and is planning on suing The Home Depot. "There are federal and state laws that protect against religious
discrimination," attorney Kara Skorupa said. "It's not like he was out in the aisles
preaching to people."
Skorupa points out the button was a direct quote from the very American Pledge of Allegiance. "These mottos and sayings that involve God, that's part of our country and historical fabric. In God we trust is on our
money."
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NEWS:The Home Depot Fires Man for "One Nation Under God" Button
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Bet anything he was proselytizing with the bible
that he recently started bringing. They just can't let people alone.
- karlschneider
October 28, 2009 6:51PM
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Bet anything? Really? Do you know the manager of the store?
And...if you don't like it. don't listen. Every religion , mainstream and obscure, has evangelism and conversion as goals. Tolerance can be easy...just let people do what makes them happy.
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:54PM
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Don't tell me, tell the religionists who
want to give their delusions the imprimatur of law . Talk about irony, all the tolerance embraced by every fundamentalist on the planet (in that they all are similar) could be put into a very small thimble.
- karlschneider
October 29, 2009 5:19PM
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I brought my Bible to work
...for years at my previous job. I wasn't "proselytizing;" I was reading for my morning devotions. For a time I read aloud in the cafeteria for anyone who would listen. I didn't raise my voice nor force myself on anyone, and no one had an issue with it.
I think this man has a case. At least, he could make a case that the company's policy was enforced arbitrarily...
- jochanaan
November 4, 2009 12:18PM
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Stick to the facts
We like to have intelligent debates here. Giving opinions without knowing the facts isn't proper. Unless you know something the rest of us don't it is mere speculation. What you are doing is "proselytizing" an anti Christian opinion. I don't see the difference.
- tbcass
November 15, 2009 9:54AM
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Facts are not necessary to have opinions.
I hope you're not as abysmally stupid as your comment suggests.
ALL religions are delusional inventions by people as a means to control gullible idiots and all are equally foul manifestations of human frailty.
- karlschneider
November 15, 2009 1:31PM
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Talk about stupid
You said "Bet anything he was proselytizing with the bible " yet you have no proof or evidence that this is true in this case. That made your "opinion" completely worthless. All opinions not backed up by evidence are as worthless as the "religions (that) are delusional inventions by people" you refer to. You're just as delusional as they are.
- tbcass
November 15, 2009 4:24PM
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If you knew 9 more things
you'd be an idiot. But you did manage to get one thing right...that religionists are delusional...
- karlschneider
November 15, 2009 6:22PM
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special treatment
A corporation is free to set its dress code (with in reason)... and a blanket policy is the best, or fairest, course of action.
Why does he feel that his button be the allowed exception?
- MrBook
October 28, 2009 6:55PM
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If he wore a aids lapel button and was told
he couldnt and he said he felt he must and then was fired would you say he was discriminated against? You know you would say he was discriminated against. Its not like he had on a button that said eat sss and die. I think he deserves some kind of compensation but not rehiring.
- TheLordrocks
October 28, 2009 7:42PM
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policy
"he couldnt and he said he felt he must and then was fired would you say he was discriminated against? You know you would say he was discriminated against."
Not at all. If the aids lapel button was not on the approved list then they could legitimately fire the wearer if he refused to take it off.
- MrBook
October 28, 2009 8:11PM
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Again I will reiterate what I said
Would you say to yourself that he was discriminated against if he was a practicing homsexual wearing an aids pin to honor another aids victim?
I did not ask you if the policy was legally binding. We all know it is. Big difference in what is legal and what is ethical and this in my opinion was unethical, legal though it might be, it was just poor mangement. Discipline him. Suspend him. But dont fire a person just because of a pin......come on. Life is brutal enough.
- TheLordrocks
October 29, 2009 10:22AM
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No
If there is a company policy that no pins other than company-issued may be worn on the apron, then it doesn't matter if it's a pin that says "The Lord Rocks" or if it's a pin that says "I'm gay." He can't wear it. And if he gets fired for refusing to take it off, it is not discrimination , either way. Company policy is company policy.
If the company allowed someone to wear a "Jesus" pin that was not on the approved list, but fired someone else for wearing a "Gay" pin, THEN that would be discrimination. See the difference?
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 11:20AM
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19 months???
What if the company approved the pin for 19 months of employment by not saying anything about it? What if after 19 months it became an issue because of what you were doing on your own personal time during your lunch hour? People here need to separate their feelings from the hard facts.
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:49PM
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That means you, buhk
You are the one who is conflating his reading of the Bible on his lunch hour (non-censored, not asked to stop, not fired for doing so) with his wearing of the button (against the rules, asked to remove, refused to do so, was fired as a consequence). You are the one who is allowing your feelings and fears of "persecution" to interfere with reasoned analysis of the facts.
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 5:30PM
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It is weird
to say it's ok to wear a pin that says UNited We Stand but not a quote from the pledge of allegiance . I say Home Depot should not all any pins at all or let the guy wear this one. They seem to want to paraphrase the pledge but not acknowledge what it really says. In essence they are giving a mixed message -- condoning the pledge but then condemning it as well. In that case it seems they are specifically targeting the religious portion of the pledge as being "bad" which in turn does qualify as discrimination . They are saying one part of the pledge is okay but not the part with a religious reference. It's the pledge. Either wear it or don't, but you can't have your cake and eat it, too.
- Jerica
November 4, 2009 11:06AM
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Except
Except that the phrase he chose was one which was added in the 1950's during the McCarthy era and is specifically controversial and bearing religious overtones. I'm sure it was no accident that he chose that particular phrase. Home Depot has a right not to have its employees involving themselves in religious controversy on company time.
- Babaroni
November 4, 2009 11:29AM
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Pretty standard
This kind of policy is very typical in large companies. They will say X is allowed & nothing else. This is important to protect them from exactly what's happening right now. Nothing remotely out of the norm with the policy.
Now, why did they choose United We Stand but not In God We Trust? That's easy. United We stand is not controversial to pretty much anyone. It's a very benign statement that's been used to support our country for decades that nobody is offended by. Some people are offended by In God We Trust for some reason. Some of those people who are offended by that own houses and would shop at Home Depot.
Home Depot does not want to offend their customers so they've made a simple list of what's acceptable and nothing else is allowed to avoid having employees walking around with "Jesus Saves" "Alahu Akbar" "Gay Power" or any other potentially offensive statements on their aprons. What your employees wear reflects on your company. If people think you support one religion or viewpoint over another people who disagree with you might not shop at your store. Having a blanket policy like this one is what companies do to avoid that problem without choosing individual statements that can't be said so they aren't discriminating.
That is until someone tries to fight a 100% legal and reasonable company policy by claiming discrimination .
Oh, and no, if he were fired for having a pin that I agree with because it was against stated company policy then no, I would still not think he was discriminated against.
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 11:42AM
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iterating
“Would you say to yourself that he was discriminated against if he was a practicing homsexual wearing an aids pin to honor another aids victim?”
No, their policy is clear in that only authorized flair is allowed to be worn during working hours.
“I did not ask you if the policy was legally binding. We all know it is. Big difference in what is legal and what is ethical and this in my opinion was unethical, legal though it might be, it was just poor mangement. Discipline him. Suspend him. But dont fire a person just because of a pin......come on. Life is brutal enough.”
From the articles on this it does not sound as though he wore the pin one day and they fired him. He violated the company dress code and when told to remove the button he refused to do so. Further he knew when he started wearing the button that it was against company policy, deciding that his pin was an exception to a very reasonable rule.
- MrBook
October 29, 2009 5:49PM
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not so special after all
Home Depot allows their Muslim associates to bring a carpet to work so they can kneel and pray facing east..... a blatant expression of religious belief. It seems to me as though he was fired not for a violation of rules... but for having the courage to say no to management.
- Disgruntled
October 29, 2009 8:22PM
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Where there rules against that?
Remember, he was fired not for religious expression, but for wearing an unapproved pin. If a Moslem employee wore a pin saying, for example, "Allahu Akbar," I'm sure he would also be asked to remove it. The employee in question was allowed to bring a Bible to work and read it during his break, why should Moslems be barred from bringing a prayer rug to work to pray during theirs?
- richardsonkr
November 4, 2009 11:41AM
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No, it was pretty clear
He violated policy. He was warned. He was fired . Done.
Ok, so Muslims can bring a carpet to work to pray. Do they pray in the aisles? No, they go back to the break room to do it, just like this guy went to the break room to read the bible . Everyone gets the exact same rights. I bet if a Muslim wore an "Alahu Akbar" pin he would get the exact same treatment.
All the "courage" in the world doesn't help you keep your job if you are blatantly flaunting the rules.
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 11:48AM
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Send Home Depot Packing
I think we should all stand up and bann against Home Depot. They need to know we are One Nation Under GOD !!!
- Gypsee
October 28, 2009 7:32PM
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Under?
except for the atheists , Buddhists, Hindi, Gnostics...
- MrBook
October 28, 2009 10:08PM
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Discriminate...
Discriminate much, Gypsee? Whose God, exactly? Are those who don't believe in the same God as you believe in part of this nation? Full citizens?
In any case, Home Depot said NOTHING about God or the nation being "united under God." All they said was that employees cannot wear pins or "flair" on their uniforms which is not company-issued. They have that right, you know?
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 11:22AM
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You are free to do so.
Just as Home Depot is free to fire him, so too are you free to boycott . Just know that I think Home Depot is awesome, and will continue to shop there.
- richardsonkr
November 4, 2009 11:38AM
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Doesn't have a prayer
A company's ability to enforce dress codes is well settled law . If his attorney is really dumb enough to file a complaint, it'll be kicked out on a 12(b)(6) motion faster than his head can spin. He'll likely also face sanctions and costs for bringing a frivolous action.
It's really very simple, if a company has a policy and your job is contingent on complying with that policy, you can kiss your job goodbye if you refuse. He was warned. He was offered alternatives. He refused to cooperate and was fired . Goodbye moron.
- Don Earl
October 28, 2009 8:47PM
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Public Relations 101 - Grade "F"
Home Depot blew this one royally. The company is going to say a button with the American flag and the Country's motto of "One Nation Under God" is in violation of the company dress code, is going to beg an explanation of why not? Especially since the young man's brother is getting ready to serve a second tour in Iraq.......how stupid can you be Home Depot? You just failed Public Relations 101 with a final grade of "F". Not only has your stance pissed off veterans and active service members, you just alienated most Christians who are patriotic. Now that's a great policy to improve Lowe's customer base. I guess Home Depot's slogan will have to be changed now to "Let's build something together, unless you're patriotic or Christian......"
Stupid move Home Depot, even if you have grounds to stand on, you're in the wrong as far as your customer are going to see it. I think some of your executives apparently didn't do well in their Public Relations classes in college did they.........stupid move.
- Lifespalette
October 28, 2009 9:11PM
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Ignorant
I was in the military , I am a Christian. The military would have NEVER let me wear a pin that said "One Nation Under God." Maybe I should sue the military... Oh that's right, it's a uniform. Similar to any other uniform with any other dress codes. Similar to Lowe's dress code which prohibits the same type of buttons. Or maybe we should let everyone wear whatever button they want. I'm sure Home Depot's customers will enjoy seeing all the different beliefs that their employees have. Or maybe they would complain about that too. Maybe Home Depot should only allow buttons that say "God" on them and be held liable for all of the religious persecution lawsuits. Better yet, why doesn't Home Depot only hire patriotic Christians ! That will go over well. Home Depot took the safest route possible, good job Home Depot, I'm still a loyal customer. BTW... "Let's Build Something Together" is Lowe's slogan, but your spin would still work for them since they have the exact same policy.
- SKL7Q1
October 29, 2009 1:09AM
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Public Relations 101
I whole-heartedly agree with you, as an Army Veteran as well as a Christian, I think Home Depot just blew it. I will boycott and take my business to Lowes or Ace Hardware or any place else except Home Depot. He is being persecuted because he is PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!
- angeleyz
October 29, 2009 7:50AM
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Good luck
Good luck finding a major hardware store that just lets their employees wear any statement of belief they want on their uniform. This sort of policy very typical. Before you go to Lowes or Ace you might want to do a little research on their company policy. If you're looking for a company that doesn't have a policy like this you're going to have to start praying for your 2X4's because nobody that sells them will fit your requirements.
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 11:55AM
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Boycott ?????
Lowe's fired an employee for wearing a pin that said .. "It's called Christmas, for Christ's sake".
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=9577785
And I'm sure if you dug around you could find someone that Ace has fired for similar reasons.
It's a place of business, not a revival or a political rally.
- jw74
November 9, 2009 11:09AM
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Irony is not dead
It would be amusing if not so sad that many people who claim to be veterans who 'fought for American's rights' become highly incensed when they attempt to exercise them. Which of course proves that either they are lying (about being veterans) or never understood the mission.
- karlschneider
October 29, 2009 10:10AM
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Lame
I can't believe that he wouldn't just take the "United We Stand" button and leave it alone. If you want to practice any religion you're free to do so. Don't bring it to work.
All that said. It was a button and what it said isn't offending to me (an atheist) and I don't think it should have been cause to fire him.
- ttut21
October 29, 2009 3:35AM
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Don't Bring it to Work?
If you only practice a religion , maybe you shouldn't bring it to work. If you BELIEVE your religion, you can't help bring it to work -- and sometimes it actually makes you a better employee. Celebrate religious and political differences in public. It's freedom OF religion EVERYWHERE, not freedom from religion ANYWHERE. We all need respect for each other, whether we have faith in God or faith in Darwin.
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:41PM
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Last sentance is great
No, they can sensor cuss words on T.V. you are fired if customers complain about it at work because it offends people. Granted someone will always be offended, but if the company or who ever you're around asks you not to "swear" then you shouldn't right?
I guess that's the same with religion . If someone asks you to not display your religious or language preference then you shouldn't. Like you said,"We all need respect for each other, whether we have faith in God or faith in Darwin."
I already said that this firing was lame. I don't agree with them firing this person at all.
- ttut21
October 30, 2009 3:29AM
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Practicing is fine
Practice away. Can you tell me exactly what your religion says about faith at work? I was raised Catholic so I'll go with that one. It encourages me to be honest and care for other people, to not cheat or steal, to have faith in god. Nothing in that company policy REMOTELY keeps anyone from doing that. I would like for you to show me exactly where your religious texts say that to practice your religion you need to wear a pin.
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 11:59AM
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Why bring Charles into this?
This is why respecting each other does not include tolerating each other's imaginary friends, delusional dogma, and self-righteous hypocrisy.
This story has nothing to do with the origin of species.
- Submariner November 12, 2009 6:34PM
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The Pledge
The Pledge has these words in it and is federally acceptable. It's not bringing your religion to work, it is quoting a federal document. Even Home Depot thinks it's ok to paraphrase the PLedge when it ok'd using a "United We Stand" pin. Sounds like Home Depot is happy enough to use the parts of the pledge it approves of. That is what discrimination is.
- Jerica
November 4, 2009 11:10AM
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Most sensible thing I've heard
You're right. This isn't about bringing religion to work. In fact this whole thing has nothing whatsoever to do with religion. Thank you for accepting that. This is about a company that, like virtually every other large company in the country (maybe world) has a policy on what you can wear to work in front of the customers. This man broke that company policy. He was fired for it. Easy enough. Thank you for agreeing with me. :)
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 12:02PM
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More Home Depot for me
Any organization of any stripe no matter what business they are in will have greater share from me if they run their business like Home Depot does.
The work place is exactly what it says ...a location at which you earn your keep in this world. It not a place for demonstartion of how you feel about your imaginary friends.
When people come to any store or place of business they should not be sidetracked by religious zealots selling their form of imaginary friend.....or even a view of their country..they are there to shop ...nothing else.
Keep your religious crap at your home and out of our face !.
- dogon
October 29, 2009 7:40AM
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Tolerance?
Religous crap? Religious zealots? Imaginary friends? You need to learn alot about tolerance or you're gonna end up with a heart attack at an early age. Don't you have any respect for human beings that might not agree with your view of the mystery of our existance?
The Pledge of Allegiance is not overtly religious. It's historic. Define " god " anyway you want. Could be Jesus, could be Obama, could be your yourself!
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:46PM
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The "pledge" never contained the 'under god' phrase
until about 1954. The original version was penned by a prominent Socialist. Take a look here:
http://home.valornet.com/krs/boohoo.jpg
- karlschneider
October 29, 2009 7:01PM
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sick of this
As a Christian I am sick of seeing the discrimination being put to Christians . I think ANYONE should be able to express their religious views by dress. The say the button might offend someone. Well what about turbans????? I am not against them that are the people who wears them rights. What about scarves that so many middle eastern women wear to work to cover their hair. That is their right even though the turbans and scarves might offend some people that does not seem to matter because it is politically incorrect to say anything about it. I could care less if they wear clothing etc that is their culture so why cant they just leave Christians alone??? if they dont like the button just dont look at it. If someone does not believe in god that is their constitutional right so why is it so wrong for someone who does.???? I am not saying before people go off the deep end and jump all over me. I am not saying that they should but I bet no one at home depot would have the guts to tell a middle eastern employee to remove their turban or scarf even though it might offend someone. To me this is total discrimination...!!!!!!!
- cbooh
October 29, 2009 10:38AM
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If
If Home Depot had a policy against wearing head-gear, then you might have a reasonable claim. But I see Home Depot employees wearing ball caps and other head wear all the time.
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 11:26AM
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point
you have a point but i wonder if someone came in wearing a hat saying i love Jesus and someone came in saying praise be to allah...??? bet the first had would go ...the second..i dont think so..
- cbooh
October 29, 2009 12:23PM
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My bet
My bet would be that hats with slogans on them are already disallowed, and that, if not, they would be very quickly -- both the "Jesus" one and the "Allah" one. And, incidentally, I'm betting that an employee who was required by his religion to wear a certain garb, such as the scarf for Muslim women , would be allowed to do so, regardless of the religion represented. For instance, if a Catholic nun took a job there (unlikely, sure, but not out of the realm of possibility, since nuns are involved in more and more secular jobs of various sorts) and still wore a habit (or just a veil, as some do), she would be allowed to wear it unless it interfered with safety regulations .
Point being that there is a difference between wearing a piece of religious garb intended to protect the wearer's modesty or remind the wearer of a religious commitment (how many Mormons do you think work for Home Depot and wear their Garments under their uniforms?) and wearing an optional piece of jewelry or "flair" meant solely for the purpose of preaching one's beliefs to others.
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 3:20PM
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Preaching?
I don't feel that "One Nation Under God, Indivisible" on a button PREACHES anything. What does "In God We Trust" PREACH on the money you use each day?
It is a patriotic and historic phrase that he was allowed to wear for 19 months.
It is evident that the book he brought to read on his lunch hour is what caused his firing.
I don't care if it was the Qur'an, The Book of Mormon, or the Bible (the mainstream one or even the Satanic one). It reeks of religious persecution if no one said anything about his HISTORIC and PATRIOTIC pin for 19 months and then he gets fired the week he starts to read a religious book on his lunch hour.
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:38PM
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No one
No one asked him to stop bringing or reading his Bible, buhk, so that's a pretty indefensible argument. He was given the opportunity to stop wearing the pin and he refused. That was the reason he was fired . Had he stopped wearing the pin, and continued to read his Bible at lunch, he'd still be working there. So your argument holds no water .
- Babaroni
October 29, 2009 5:28PM
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just curious...
I must ask if you (and Mr. Book) have a life outside this comment site? I am amazed and wonder if you would be such a good conversationalist without the cover of your computer? Do you dislike most things as much as you dislike (and feel superior to) the United States?
- just a thought
November 4, 2009 9:32PM
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discrimination??
“As a Christian I am sick of seeing the discrimination being put to Christians .”
How is this discrimination against Christians? He was not fired because the button was Christian, but rather because it was not an authorized button. The same thing would have happened if he had worn a button proclaiming some other faith, or even saying that bunnies were cute.
“I think ANYONE should be able to express their religious views by dress.”
Except that companies have a well recognized right to set dress codes appropriate to their working environment .
“The say the button might offend someone. Well what about turbans????? I am not against them that are the people who wears them rights. What about scarves that so many middle eastern women wear to work to cover their hair. That is their right even though the turbans and scarves might offend some people that does not seem to matter because it is politically incorrect to say anything about it.”
As stated above… a company can mandate a dress code reasonable to the work environment. If a company chooses to mandate a dress code that does not include headscarves or turbans then that is well within their legal right to do so (and to fire those who refuse to comply).
“I am not saying that they should but I bet no one at home depot would have the guts to tell a middle eastern employee to remove their turban or scarf even though it might offend someone.”
You can speculate… but unless you can demonstrate that turbans or headscarves are against the dress code, but that those who wear them still can, you are simply speculating.
“To me this is total discrimination...!!!!!!!”
I fail to see how. He was not fired because of his beliefs, he was fired because he refused to follow the companies dress code… the same code that applies to ALL employees.
- MrBook
October 29, 2009 5:51PM
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Nope, sorry
Wearing a headscarf is a religious obligation. It is the practicing of religion . To restrict that would be religious discrimination .
Wearing a pin is a personal decision to make a religious statement (honestly I don't even think this is a religious statement but you guys seem to be making it into one) at work not a religious obligation. I'm happy to change my mind on that if you can show me where in the bible a it says a Christian has to wear pins to work to get into heaven.
- State of Reason
November 4, 2009 12:06PM
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nope
dont see where it says you have to wear a headscarf to get to heave either??????... i am saying it is just as much discrimination to not be able to express your views to god as to wear a scarf turban etc...that is also discrimination...
- cbooh
November 5, 2009 9:09PM
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Everyone has an opinion...
I can't get over so many opinions and how wrong so many people can be. America is a place to celebrate differences, not stifle beliefs. If this man really wore that button for 19 months with NO ONE said anything about it...AND it is a part of a national "pledge" that is popular in both religious and secular circles...then there has been some kind of disregard for this man's religion . If it wasn't an issue until he was seen with a bible on his lunch hour, there was discrimination ; plain and simple.
Don't get me wrong...I respect and appreciate people of all religions and political preferences. I wish there were a little more tolerance in both the workplace and in this forum.
You put words in people's mouths and you assume actions that you don't know happened. You are a sad bunch!
- buhk
October 29, 2009 4:25PM
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So you reserve the right to discriminate
to yourself and others who believe "correctly". I'm certain you have no idea how evil and arrogant that kind of crap actually is.
- karlschneider
October 29, 2009 7:06PM
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They were right
What is the state of the law ? If you can't wear political or religious messages while representing your employer, it doesn't matter what the messages are. What if he'd been wearing a button that said "One Nation Under Satan"? If I saw that on a Home Depot employee, I'd assume they at least permitted it. They want to be in control of the official messages in their own stores. Doesn't every company? If he has the right to wear a God message, why doesn't any employee have the right to wear "Assassinate Obama" or "Women Are Whores" or anything else they want. Does he think his religion gives him special privileges?
- ducdebrabant
November 4, 2009 11:08AM
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Does the Constitution apply to private businesses?
There is no question that the man has a Constitutional right to free speech , and is perfectly entitled to wear whatever and however many pins he wants, read his Bible anywhere, and proselytize at will. That being said, the Bill of Rights restricts the Federal Government, and not private businesses. Home Depot can fire him for whatever they want.
- richardsonkr
November 4, 2009 11:33AM
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I wish him well
This is Home Depot's case, "This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs. "?
McFly! The button only quoted a piece of the Pledge of Allegience. I believe he has a valid case. His Bible reading is inconsequential if done on his lunch hour.
- bandofotters November 4, 2009 11:48AM
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Button Wearer
First, when he was hired he was informed of company policy.
Second, when he wanted to wear the button he could have petitioned the company to have the button declared acceptable - there is nothing that says that he did that.
Third, he raised the issue higher when started to bring a Bible to work. If it were demonstrated (and nothing was said about this) that he proselytized to customers and/or co- workers during hours that he should have been working, the firing was 100% justified.
- Rashi18
November 4, 2009 11:53AM
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Fairy tales
God doesn't seem to be helping Mr. Keezer too much, what's with that? Maybe He dosn't exist?
- jway
November 4, 2009 12:41PM
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help at last
I would suggest that you explain things to us...I know you can because you obviously know everything - absolutely everything. I feel safe knowing you are on the planet and will help us poor ignorant beings to understand the truth.
- just a thought
November 4, 2009 9:38PM
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let's hear it
Why don't you tell us what you think? If God's all powerful and this guy stood up for Him then why's he out of work right now? For that matter where was God during Auschwitz?
- jway
November 5, 2009 5:18AM
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Store Policy
doesn't violate any laws. Since the Home Depot is private property, they can make whatever rules they choose, provided they don't violate any laws.
The guy violated the rules, and he got fired . This isn't a matter of religious discrimination , it's a matter of a guy refusing to adhere to the policies of his employer.
- rayven
November 4, 2009 1:18PM
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The policy manual will decide the issue
In the article it states "company-provided" and in the next line it states "company-approved". The wording of said manual at the time of his dismissal will be his best defense. Remember that Home Depot is a national company publicly traded with stores nation-wide.
If only "company-provided" pins are stated within the manual as acceptable, he may lose his argument, unless it is proven that others anywhere else in Home Depot's stores nationwide can be found to testify that in other stores employees wear pins other than "company-provided" pins. If so, he was discriminated against.
If the policy manual says "company-approved pins" then I would argue that the Company manager (therefore the "company") "approved" of his pins by failure to act sooner than Now. (assuming Now is his future dismissal date, a fact not given in the article above.) Again, he wins by improper dismissal.
Home depot will not allow this to get to the to court because Okeechobee city is a very tight-knit small town. People there will boycot the place out of spite. I know the store, and the city fokes there. You don't mess with the elders in a small town like this. They are usually someone's Grandpa or cousin on the County Commission Board that hands out business permits. Sometimes, who-you-know beats being right in the public arena.
- harleyjames
November 4, 2009 1:25PM
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house of glass - primer in the american political process
I believe that a company has a right to expect that its employees always represent their employer in the best possible light. After all, this is why they pay you to work. If those terms are unacceptable turn down the money & go work elsewhere. Amusingly, this is the turning point where so many militants turn into sell-outs who stay put, turn bitter and sue.
I also have to say that it is certain that the atheists on this site also proselytize their beliefs. Just read some of the "passionate" postings on this topic. Why do you all act like a bunch of Christian zealots & then complain when the Christians are only acting the same way to you? You sue, you picket, you argue too. "Passion" seems to has become a idiom for jerk on this posting.
Look, if you want to win people over to your ideas you don't go calling them names. It is not necessarily a delusion if someone believes in something you don't. People need to respect people of difference and I am saying this as a gay man who remembers what life was like for queers before the Christopher St riots.
One thing I learned from those days is that I want freedom not an excuse for a bar fight. There is no freedom if you can't believe in your religion . How then can I be free not to believe? Of course, the reverse is true too.
Please remember that so much much of what drives social issues comes from politicians who are not interested in resolving the issues and bringing peace to our communities but rather want to jack up their respective bases in order to win a job in the state assembly.
- whatHistory
November 4, 2009 2:34PM
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He was not honoring anything nor anyone
He was proselytizing. If he truly loved his county and wanted to honor it or American soldiers then a button "United We Stand", "One Nation indivisble", or "E Pluribus Unum" would be appropriate. His button is divisive and a lie. We are not One Nation, under any god or gods.
The company has a dress code, just because he is foolish enough to be religious does not entitle him to ignore that dress code.
- Monty Gaither
November 4, 2009 5:20PM
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I Don't Understand.....
Why after wearing the "One Nation Under God, indivisible" pin for over a year did Home Depot decide after this guy brought his bible to work to give him a hard time over the button??
Company pin policy or not it seems to me that this isn't even about the pin as much as his reading his bible on company property. And if Home Depot decides to fight this kid's suit I believe they will lose and big time. Any decent attorney is going to bring up the timing of the companies harassment AFTER the bible was brought into work.
What has happened in this nation? A nation founded on religious principals, a nation whose founding fathers fought for religious freedoms?
This isn't (or shouldn't be) about one religion over another it is about expressing your beliefs. I don't understand what everyone is so damn afraid of.
- dadelp
November 5, 2009 1:17AM
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Rules are rules
He knew the rules required for the job. He broke the rules and he was fired . Those are the breaks.
- tbcass
November 15, 2009 9:55AM
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