General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsReligion at work can bring fire and brimstone
http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/16/10686765-religion-at-work-can-bring-fire-and-brimstoneEmployees have religious rights in the workplace, but wearing your religion on your sleeve at work can be hazardous to your career.
The question of how much religion in the workplace is too much is playing out in a California court this week with a closely watched case involving a former NASA employee.
David Coppedge, a former computer specialist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is claiming he lost his managerial role and then his job because he believes in a higher power. His employer says he was harassing employees but was ultimately let go as part of a round of mass layoffs.
Coppedge admitted in a court filing that he was engaging his co-workers in religious conversation, most notably handing out DVDs on intelligent design, and that he was warned by a supervisor to cut it out because it amounted to pushing religion, and that the dialogue was unwelcome and disruptive.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)At least they have an excuse. But to see someone who is otherwise smart, as he'd have to be to work at JPL, go around promoting Intelligent Design, sickens me. This guy truly has no excuse. He was blessed to be born with a good mind, yet decided not to utilize it to its full potential. Sad.
brewens
(13,615 posts)your superstition, out of my face! If someone pushes their religion at work and causes me even the slightest hint of inconvenience, I mean to tell you, I will react with extreme predjudice! The same thing with nepotism screwing me. Someone using family politics to gain an advantage means the gloves come off. Taking that step, they have gone chickenshit and it's anything goes.
Getting and keeping a good job is a matter of life and death. Anyone on a job doing something underhanded or screwing someone over should keep that in mind.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)i think you are reading a different First Amendment to the Constitution...
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
sP
Enrique
(27,461 posts)the guy was a real character, like a white rapper type who was also into Christianity and preaching it to everyone. It didn't bother me that much, I just ignored him, but the people that he really upset were Christians of another sect as this guy. One woman in particular was always fighting with him and complaining to the bosses about him. They eventually let him go.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)NASA - and the American taxpayer - didn't pay him as a manager to preach to a captive audience.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)- a solo practitioner - that was asked to leave his firm because he constantly proselytized co-workers and clients. I overheard him discussing it on the phone one day (our desks were only four feet apart and I couldn't help but hear) and he still seemed miffed that his former employer thought such activities were inappropriate.
Proselytization in the workplace is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. Period. Keep your damned skydaddy fairytales to yourself.
msongs
(67,433 posts)bongbong
(5,436 posts)THis idiot disobeyed a supervisor's orders to stop bothering other people with his delusion-DVDs. Disobeying a boss usually doesn't help your employment status.
If this clown wins this suit (why are the "stop frivolous lawsuits!" crowd always suing somebody?), then I will start a religion whose central tenet is
"Stealing company property is the Holy Mission of anybody in this religion"
and proceed from there.