woman fired for saying "Merry Christmas"

[Smiling JOe]

the employer has the right to decide what message he or she wants an employee to use, with the exception of something illegal or vulgar. i say "happy holidays" all the time because it is inclusive. i do not celebrate christmas but when someone says "merry christmas" to me, i just accept it and wish them "happy holidays". why people have a problem with inclusiveness in a public forum baffles me. as for your friends and family, say whatever you want. but please stop telling me its disrespectful to use "happy holidays". i'm with the other sowalers that think there is more to this "merry christmas" story by this lady than meets the eye.

I keep reading people talk about being "inclusive," by saying "happy holidays." What is a holiday? It comes from "Holy Days." So if you want to include Jews and Christians, that phrase works, but it excludes other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and of course it excludes Atheism, too. So, by saying Happy Holidays at Christmas, you are really only referring to two major religions, and it is far from being inclusive.

 

[jodiFL]

I cant help but think that the"insubordination and "gross misconduct" are for her not using the greeting. But I have come in contact with so many people in this area that dont celebrate Christmas for cultural reasons (Russia celebrates the New Years on 1/06, A girl I work with from Vietnam doesnt celebrate until April) that I dont see why he wouldnt let her just say the normal greeting. As far as this being insubordination, the same could be said for women refusing to remove a burkha and the courts have sided with them on several occasions.

 

[Smiling JOe]

and most recently, a Judge held a lady in contempt of court and sentenced her to jail time for not removing her burkha, while in the Court Room. I believe she was called in for jury duty.

 

[Matt J]

How in the world is saying "Merry Christmas" an attempt to convert anyone to Christianity? Is saying "Happy Haloween" an attempt to convert people to wican? My goodness, the point of this is that the lady was fired for some other reason and is trying to invent a cause to make a buck.

Actually Halloween is a Pagan holiday, but according to Christians they're both going to hell equally.

and most recently, a Judge held a lady in contempt of court and sentenced her to jail time for not removing her burkha, while in the Court Room. I believe she was called in for jury duty.

If it was a federal judge he has some pretty broad powers.

 

[beachmouse]

I cant help but think that the"insubordination and "gross misconduct" are for her not using the greeting. But I have come in contact with so many people in this area that dont celebrate Christmas for cultural reasons (Russia celebrates the New Years on 1/06, A girl I work with from Vietnam doesnt celebrate until April) that I dont see why he wouldnt let her just say the normal greeting. As far as this being insubordination, the same could be said for women refusing to remove a burkha and the courts have sided with them on several occasions.

But does the woman with the burka have the right to go to work and answer the phone with 'Have a blessed Ramdan' on her employer's dime, even if the business owner, a conservative Christian, and sometime missionary, is uncomfortable with that?

It was interesting how in the last couple of days I've been in both Borders (massively hippie, all religions are awesome corporate DNA) and Hobby Lobby (so strongly Christian that they post a statement on their door that they close on Sundays so their employees can attend the worship service of their choice) and both of them seemed to have gone with the 'Happy Holidays!' script for employees.

 

[idlewind]

But does the woman with the burka have the right to go to work and answer the phone with 'Have a blessed Ramdan' on her employer's dime, even if the business owner, a conservative Christian, and sometime missionary, is uncomfortable with that?

It was interesting how in the last couple of days I've been in both Borders (massively hippie, all religions are awesome corporate DNA) and Hobby Lobby (so strongly Christian that they post a statement on their door that they close on Sundays so their employees can attend the worship service of their choice) and both of them seemed to have gone with the 'Happy Holidays!' script for employees.

The lady would have every right to say happy ramadan if she chose. The company also has the right to employee who they choose. If you want the right to say whatever you want in the workplace, form your own company.

 

[Matt J]

But does the woman with the burka have the right to go to work and answer the phone with 'Have a blessed Ramdan' on her employer's dime, even if the business owner, a conservative Christian, and sometime missionary, is uncomfortable with that?

It was interesting how in the last couple of days I've been in both Borders (massively hippie, all religions are awesome corporate DNA) and Hobby Lobby (so strongly Christian that they post a statement on their door that they close on Sundays so their employees can attend the worship service of their choice) and both of them seemed to have gone with the 'Happy Holidays!' script for employees.

Closed on Sundays works for most christians, but it still excludes Seventh Day Adventists.

The lady would have every right to say happy ramadan if she chose. The company also has the right to employee who they choose. If you want the right to say whatever you want in the workplace, form your own company.

That's awfully elitist.

 

[Smiling JOe]

The lady would have every right to say happy ramadan if she chose. The company also has the right to employee who they choose. If you want the right to say whatever you want in the workplace, form your own company.

I don't know that the Courts would agree with you. If during the December holiday season, employees are required to say "Happy Holidays," which has Christian and Jewish cogitation, and the employee refuses to go with the company policy because she is Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu, and she is fired solely because of her refuses to follow that policy, she will win in Court every time.

If an employee's religion requires them to say "happy Ramadan" to every person during Ramadan (which I don't believe is a requirement, but we are talking "what-ifs"), she is protected from her employer by the US Constitution to say that, even though she is at work.

I will add, that a half-smart employer would not dream of saying the cause for termination was due to an employee saying, "merry Christmas." That would be rather non-business-like of them, and cost them a fortune in legal bills and payoff to the former employee.

 

[ShallowsNole]

One of the newscasts mentioned that she had already found another position. :roll:

I'm a big believer in Merry Christmas but the point is that her employer wasn't asking her to walk on nails or defame Christianity. If you work with the public, you should say what your employer asks you to say. If you are that uncomfortable doing so, then you'd be happier finding another job anyway.

jmho.

 

[idlewind]

Closed on Sundays works for most christians, but it still excludes Seventh Day Adventists.



That's awfully elitist.

I can't help being elitist, it just comes natural to those of us born with a silver spoon in our mouth.

Calling me elitist is like calling Rosie O'Donnell a beauty queen.:funn::funn::funn::funn: