Judge: Workplace lecture was religious harassment

[rug]

An Iowa store owners was ordered to pay unemployment benefits to a worker who left her job because of unwelcome proselytizing.

Clark Kauffman, The Des Moines Register 12:11 a.m. EST November 13, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa -- An Iowa grocery store owner who lectured an employee on her religious beliefs must pay her unemployment benefits, a state judge has ruled.

The case centered on a question that often divides civil libertarians and people of faith: Do business owners have the right to advocate for their religious beliefs in discussions with employees?

The store owner, Tyler Stille, says his faith is an integral part of his business and all of his 15 employees were made aware of that before they were hired.

"We have a Christian fish symbol on our sign," he said. "Before we hire anybody, we tell them our faith. We play Christian music in our store all the time, and we always make sure that's OK with them because that's a part of our life."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/judge-store-owner-cant-lecture-employeeson-religion/3513239/

[cbayer]

1. Sounds like she really put up with a lot before she quit.

Looks like the right decision to me.

There are lines. He crossed them.

[rug]

2. This would have been enough for me to quit.

We play Christian music in our store all the time

[cbayer]

3. Lol, me too.

I was recently volunteering at an event where one of the other volunteers took it upon herself to play that terrible, in your face christian music that makes my skin crawl.

If she was trying to give an example of what hell might be like, she achieved her goal.

[CFLDem]

4. I've had jobs where the bosses have

generic grace time with the creator around the high holidays. While it's not really appropriate, it's a good enough workplace where I just grin and bare it.

As far as religion in the workplace, I don't think there's anything wrong with a private company being heavily religious ( like hobby lobby).

I don't personally care for it but that's their rights to run their business as they like. However, overtly badgering a worker with the bible is a definite no-no and I agree with the ruling in this case.

[rug]

5. Welcome to DU.

Here, you asked for it.

[CFLDem]

6. Lol thanks

[Humanist_Activist]

7. Generally, if a secular oriented business advertises with something overly Christian, its best...

to do your business elsewhere, you are more likely to get screwed.

Not to mention its tacky as all hell.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. They don't listen to the same Christian music I do.

Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings (originally a movement from a string quartet) arranged as an Agnus Dei

Mozart Requiem:

Brahms - How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place from A German Requiem

Sir Edward Elgar-Lux Aeterna (Eternal light) choral arrangement of "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations (orchestral piece)

Why aren't these Christian pop guys divinely inspired? Or am I missing something???

[cbayer]

9. The Barber piece is one of the most intensely sorrowful pieces I have ever heard.

I have some very personal memories associated with the loss of one of my dearest friends.

I can't listen to it without crying....

but then, sometimes, one needs to cry.