Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 10:54 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_god_button_home_depot

By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer Brian Skoloff, Associated Press Writer – Wed Oct 28, 8:35 am ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A former cashier for The Home Depot who has been wearing a "One nation under God" button on his work apron for more than a year has been fired, he says because of the religious reference. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed.

"I've worn it for well over a year and I support my country and God," Trevor Keezor said Tuesday. "I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country."

The American flag button Keezer wore in the Florida store since March 2008 says "One nation under God, indivisible."

Earlier this month, he began bringing a Bible to read during his lunch break at the store in the rural town of Okeechobee, about 140 miles north of Miami. That's when he says The Home Depot management told him he would have to remove the button.

Keezer refused, and he was fired on Oct. 23, he said.

"It feels kind of like a punishment, like I was punished for just loving my country," Keezer said.

A Home Depot spokesman said Keezer was fired because he violated 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," 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's lawyer, Kara Skorupa, said she planned to sue the Atlanta-based company.

"There are federal and state laws that protect against religious discrimination," Skorupa said. "It's not like he was out in the aisles preaching to people."

Keezer said he was working at the store to earn money for college, and wore the button to support his country and his 27-year-old brother, who is in the National Guard and is set to report in December for a second tour of duty in Iraq.

Skorupa noted the slogan on Keezer's pin is straight from the Pledge of Allegiance.

"These mottos and sayings that involve God, that's part of our country and historical fabric," Skorupa said. "In God we trust is on our money."

Michael Masinter, a civil rights and employment law professor at NOVA Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, said any lawsuit over religious discrimination might be a tough one to win.

"Because it's a private business, not one that's owned and operated by the government, it doesn't have to operate under the free speech provisions of the First Amendment," Masinter said.

"But we're not talking about religious displays here," he said. "This sounds more like a political message ... Wearing a button of that sort would not easily be described as a traditional form of religious expression like wearing a cross or wearing a yarmulke."

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 11:11 PM

What I don't get is that he wore the button for over a year and they JUST fired him.

Marvo301 · 10-28-2009, 11:13 PM

When did the Pledge of Allegiance become offensive? This makes no sense to me at all.

Darren J. · 10-28-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

What I don't get is that he wore the button for over a year and they JUST fired him.

^^^This. For a year and a half, no one did anything to him. Now all of a sudden, they fire him?

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren J.

^^^This. For a year and a half, no one did anything to him. Now all of a sudden, they fire him?

I know - to me, that's the most baffling part of this story.

JamesG · 10-28-2009, 11:33 PM

I don't see the logical reasoning in this but I guess private companies have the authority to fire people on a whim for whatever reason.

No "Free Speech" rights for a private company.

catlover79 · 10-29-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I don't see the logical reasoning in this but I guess private companies have the authority to fire people on a whim for whatever reason.

No "Free Speech" rights for a private company.

Yeah, and I think that the defense has a big edge in the fact that the employee wore the button from March 2008 and was fired in October 2009. What's up with that? Did customers complain? I have a feeling a lot more is going on here than we're not being told.

Marvo301 · 10-29-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yeah, and I think that the defense has a big edge in the fact that the employee wore the button from March 2008 and was fired in October 2009. What's up with that? Did customers complain? I have a feeling a lot more is going on here than we're not being told.

I think it's very telling that the company only took action after he started reading his Bible on his lunch hours. I have a feeling this is more about his Bible than it is about his button.

catlover79 · 10-29-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I think it's very telling that the company only took action after he started reading his Bible on his lunch hours. I have a feeling this is more about his Bible than it is about his button.

Plus he was reading the Bible when he was off the clock. If he chooses to read the Bible on his free time, than the company should mind its own business.

JT · 10-29-2009, 12:30 AM

If company policy states that associates can't wear buttons that aren't given to them by the company, then I don't see why he was allowed to wear his for over a year. They should have shut that down when it first happened.

Marvo301 · 10-29-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

If company policy states that associates can't wear buttons that aren't given to them by the company, then I don't see why he was allowed to wear his for over a year. They should have shut that down when it first happened.

Which supports my point that the button wasn't the real issue. The company didn't take any action against this employee until he started reading his Bible at lunchtime.(on his own time) I suspect one of his fellow employees saw him reading his Bible, didn't like it and complained. The company probably felt it would be less contriversial (and therefore they would get less negative publicity) if they blamed his dismissal on the button.

Waterston_Fan · 10-29-2009, 11:34 AM

The thing is... he was treading in deep water when he wore the button and then brought his bible.

They should have asked him to remove his button when he started wearing it but I do bet one of his co workers didn't like that he brought his bible.

Why couldn't he just bring a book instead.

MickeyMac · 10-29-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Plus he was reading the Bible when he was off the clock. If he chooses to read the Bible on his free time, than the company should mind its own business.

Totally. I have worked at jobs where guys were looking at porn magazines off the clock, and were noticed by the supervisors, but they said nothing.

Can anybody explain that one?

catlover79 · 10-29-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

The thing is... he was treading in deep water when he wore the button and then brought his bible.

They should have asked him to remove his button when he started wearing it but I do bet one of his co workers didn't like that he brought his bible.

Why couldn't he just bring a book instead.

As long as he was reading his Bible on his break time, then why is it an issue? But I do agree with you that if the button was going to be such an issue, they should've asked him to take it off immediately, instead of waiting over a YEAR AND A HALF before firing him over it.

catlover79 · 10-29-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Totally. I have worked at jobs where guys were looking at porn magazines off the clock, and were noticed by the supervisors, but they said nothing.

Can anybody explain that one?

Double standard, anyone?

10-28-2009, 10:54 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_god_button_home_depot By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer Brian Skoloff, Associated Press Writer – Wed Oct 28, 8:35 am ET WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A former cashier for The Home Depot who has been wearing a "One nation under God" button on his work apron for more than a year has been fired, he says because of the religious reference. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed. "I've worn it for well over a year and I support my country and God," Trevor Keezor said Tuesday. "I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country." The American flag button Keezer wore in the Florida store since March 2008 says "One nation under God, indivisible." Earlier this month, he began bringing a Bible to read during his lunch break at the store in the rural town of Okeechobee, about 140 miles north of Miami. That's when he says The Home Depot management told him he would have to remove the button. Keezer refused, and he was fired on Oct. 23, he said. "It feels kind of like a punishment, like I was punished for just loving my country," Keezer said. A Home Depot spokesman said Keezer was fired because he violated 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," 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's lawyer, Kara Skorupa, said she planned to sue the Atlanta-based company. "There are federal and state laws that protect against religious discrimination," Skorupa said. "It's not like he was out in the aisles preaching to people." Keezer said he was working at the store to earn money for college, and wore the button to support his country and his 27-year-old brother, who is in the National Guard and is set to report in December for a second tour of duty in Iraq. Skorupa noted the slogan on Keezer's pin is straight from the Pledge of Allegiance. "These mottos and sayings that involve God, that's part of our country and historical fabric," Skorupa said. "In God we trust is on our money." Michael Masinter, a civil rights and employment law professor at NOVA Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, said any lawsuit over religious discrimination might be a tough one to win. "Because it's a private business, not one that's owned and operated by the government, it doesn't have to operate under the free speech provisions of the First Amendment," Masinter said. "But we're not talking about religious displays here," he said. "This sounds more like a political message ... Wearing a button of that sort would not easily be described as a traditional form of religious expression like wearing a cross or wearing a yarmulke."
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-28-2009, 11:13 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	When did the Pledge of Allegiance become offensive? This makes no sense to me at all.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-29-2009, 12:30 AM	#10
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	If company policy states that associates can't wear buttons that aren't given to them by the company, then I don't see why he was allowed to wear his for over a year. They should have shut that down when it first happened.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

10-28-2009, 11:11 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	What I don't get is that he wore the button for over a year and they JUST fired him.

10-28-2009, 11:33 PM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,174	I don't see the logical reasoning in this but I guess private companies have the authority to fire people on a whim for whatever reason. No "Free Speech" rights for a private company.

10-29-2009, 11:34 AM	#12
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	The thing is... he was treading in deep water when he wore the button and then brought his bible. They should have asked him to remove his button when he started wearing it but I do bet one of his co workers didn't like that he brought his bible. Why couldn't he just bring a book instead.