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Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button

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Anonymous

Guest
Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button

By 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."




How many foreigners are working at home depot that wear their islamic dress attire? How many people from india work there that run around with the little red push buttons in their foreheads? I used to work for home depot in 2001. I will not shop there or anywhere that attacks people that show allegiance to this country
 

Einstein

Well-known member
it sounds as if management wanted him out anyway. i can just see one of our employees reading the bible on break and then trying to witness to others as the result of southern bible belt church teachings. he may not be a fanatic and go to heaven, but he no longer has a job in a recession.
 

Triangle Bar

Well-known member
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.

Thank you Professor, what do you have your degree in? Fascism perhaps.

Oh I forgot, employees are the de-facto slaves of their employer.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
I'm on the side of Home Depot, if they do not want their employee's wearing buttons of any sort they should have the right to dictate that. The company uniform is not a persons personal billboard.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
aplusmnt said:
I'm on the side of Home Depot, if they do not want their employee's wearing buttons of any sort they should have the right to dictate that. The company uniform is not a persons personal billboard.

AP as I said in my post I worked for Home Depot so did my daughter for years. If you Go in to a hd look at all the pins with advertisement logos the employees are wearing. You can go on ebay and many of these pins given out by vendors bring big bucks.

Based on my experience I would say home depot is trying to be politically correct with the world situation. The muslims and all the other hate groups. The Christian is being attacked and asked to bend over and grab their knees while the world accepts anything and everything the idiots demanding acceptance scream.

Again the flag and any other pin of allegiance to products from Dewalt to GE have been and were acceptable. they may have used it as a reason to fire the employee when he was guilty of another infraction.

You can bet the attorney has already got pictures of other employees with anything and everything on their aprons even rainbow pins.

I bet the employee wins and he deserves to. I am sick of this please the world and all the sicko's. I ain't grabbing my ankles for any of them or bowing to them either.
 

Steve

Well-known member
aplusmnt said:
I'm on the side of Home Depot, if they do not want their employee's wearing buttons of any sort they should have the right to dictate that. The company uniform is not a persons personal billboard.

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seems the policy is to have buttons.. and make the employees look like corporate billboards..
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
If Home Depot is hypocrites then the man has a right to sue, but to me him winning would depend on rather they allowed other religious pins. You can not be allowing a Muslim to wear a Allah pin and a Christian not to wear one. Now if they allow political neutral pins such as "Have a nice day" that would be ok.

Either way they have the right to say what someone wears, but then the man also has the right to sue if they show religious discrimination.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
aplusmnt said:
If Home Depot is hypocrites then the man has a right to sue, but to me him winning would depend on rather they allowed other religious pins. You can not be allowing a Muslim to wear a Allah pin and a Christian not to wear one. Now if they allow political neutral pins such as "Have a nice day" that would be ok.

Either way they have the right to say what someone wears, but then the man also has the right to sue if they show religious discrimination.

Speaking of muslims. Any and every time I have the opportunity I always say may GOD Bless You to them. You might say its my way of witnessing to them. :wink:

Then again it might be my way of letting them know I am in no way intimidated by them or their beliefs.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Pig Farmer said:
aplusmnt said:
If Home Depot is hypocrites then the man has a right to sue, but to me him winning would depend on rather they allowed other religious pins. You can not be allowing a Muslim to wear a Allah pin and a Christian not to wear one. Now if they allow political neutral pins such as "Have a nice day" that would be ok.

Either way they have the right to say what someone wears, but then the man also has the right to sue if they show religious discrimination.

Speaking of muslims. Any and every time I have the opportunity I always say may GOD Bless You to them. You might say its my way of witnessing to them. :wink:

Then again it might be my way of letting them know I am in no way intimidated by them or their beliefs.

Do you let them know you are a pig farmer?....lol
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
aplusmnt said:
Pig Farmer said:
aplusmnt said:
If Home Depot is hypocrites then the man has a right to sue, but to me him winning would depend on rather they allowed other religious pins. You can not be allowing a Muslim to wear a Allah pin and a Christian not to wear one. Now if they allow political neutral pins such as "Have a nice day" that would be ok.

Either way they have the right to say what someone wears, but then the man also has the right to sue if they show religious discrimination.

Speaking of muslims. Any and every time I have the opportunity I always say may GOD Bless You to them. You might say its my way of witnessing to them. :wink:

Then again it might be my way of letting them know I am in no way intimidated by them or their beliefs.

Do you let them know you are a pig farmer?....lol

I don't come right out and tell them. But I am quite sure many days they can tell by the smell :nod: :nod: :nod:
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Pig Farmer said:
aplusmnt said:
Pig Farmer said:
Speaking of muslims. Any and every time I have the opportunity I always say may GOD Bless You to them. You might say its my way of witnessing to them. :wink:

Then again it might be my way of letting them know I am in no way intimidated by them or their beliefs.

Do you let them know you are a pig farmer?....lol

I don't come right out and tell them. But I am quite sure many days they can tell by the smell :nod: :nod: :nod:

:lol:
 
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