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BTW, it's not just the South and Fundamentalists. While visiting friends in Utah, I once interviewed for a position at a small town newspaper there, and nearly the entire interview was about my personal background, where I had lived, how long I was married, my kids, that kinda thing, with hardly any questions about my job experience or qualifications. But as my friends later explained, "oh that was nothing, you were just interviewed by a Mormon" (and needless to say, I didn't get the job)!
Yeah, I had an experience very much like that. The only difference was that I am a Mormon. I didn't get the job either.
It would have cost me my mind. Would it have been Ok to talk about my dedication to the black arts and belief in Satan? While not a law, it is surely unwise to do what this woman did. Anyone who has to fill their day with fictitious and controversial discussions is going to be a problem to stay clear of.
I had a interview once with someone that also is a minister on the side and went to divinity school. Needless to say it was a bit awkward to say the least.
If someone wants to be religious that's fine but frankly just keep it from work.
Having said this though there are some companies that can be cultish. See the book Corporate Cults
Please don't get offended and please correct me if I get some wrong information.
This is a good place to exchange information and I am interested in this kind of topics. I learn stuff from you guys all the time.
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this law protects an employee’s EEO. It applies to the government and private employers. The law focuses on the protection of employees’ religious belief.
It makes it unlawful if an employer:
(1) Fails or refuses to hire or to discharge any individual, or discriminates against any individual because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;
(2) Limits, segregates, or classifies his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any employment opportunities or adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
For an employee to be protected under Title VII, he must show that:
1. He/she holds a sincere religious belief and his/her belief conflicts with an employment requirement;
2. He/she has informed the employer about the conflict; and
3. He/she was discriminated against for failing to comply with the conflicting employment requirement.
Employers can even hold regular devotional or prayer meetings for employees so long as attendance is not required and the meeting is voluntary.
On the other hand, there is no law to ensure a religion-free workplace right. Attempting to create such a workplace may put an employer under liability for denying an employee's religious freedom.
Sorry, but you're a tad off-base here -- completely understandable because this is an extremely complex subject area. Not only are the laws and precedents complex, but the answers change a fair amount when one moves from private-sector to public-sector employment -- requirements are much more strict on public-sector employers. The answers also change a bit when one moves from secular employers to religion-based employers (e.g. Catholic Charities, World Vision, etc.).
First and foremost, Title VII does NOT "focus on the protection of employees' religious belief" -- it is far broader than that.
Second, and generally speaking, a religion-free workplace isn't a problem, but a solution. There are exceptions to this, and a "religion-free workplace" can be taken too far.
Third, employers cannot "hold regular devotional or prayer meetings" because it strongly suggests they favor one religion over others. Employers can "allow regular devotional or prayer meetings" as long as certain conditions are met. Again, there are exceptions.
Fourth, you're a bit off on your Title VII protection requirements. Your item 1 -- under American laws, including the Title VII regulations and all related case law, people with "no religion" are just as much a protected class/group as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Wiccans, etc. Your item 2 -- in the employment application process, which is what this thread has been about, the person isn't yet employed, so this does not and cannot apply.
You might respond by asking, "Do you mind if I discuss gay marriage and legalizing marijuana?"
Aggressive Christians are everywhere in the bible belt. In this secular society they think it's ok to proselytize at police stations, work places, public schools.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
8,852 posts, read 10,451,396 times
Reputation: 6670
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katzpur
Yeah, I had an experience very much like that. The only difference was that I am a Mormon. I didn't get the job either.
So are you saying that you don't find it odd to have a job interview that seems more concerned with your private life… or that Mormons never discriminate?
What incredible bigotry and insularity on the part of almost all the posters! How can people have the gall to express condemnation of any topic of conversation save conspiring to commit a crime?
Additionally, insulting a member of management is not a way to insure successful employment.
Note that I AM technically Christian, but after seeing the direction the Church has taken and the real beliefs of most modern far-right "Christians," I have found that the more forward the person's religion, the more unreligious the person's actual beliefs are, sadly.
Should you edit your last phrase to "the more forward the person's religion, the more unreligious the person's actual practices are, sadly", then what I would have to say is
Um... er... ah... "Amen?"
Having been born and raised in the American South, and having lived there for the first 42 years of my life, I know exactly what you mean. One survival skill I learned -- if you have any other choice, NEVER do business with any firm that loudly and publicly proclaims itself as "Christian-owned." If you must do business with them, keep one hand on your wallet at all times, and be sure to count your fingers after every handshake.
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Hi-Jack ON:
I have also decided that a large number of these far-right "Christians" should create, and elevate, and celebrate, a new saint -- Saint Ebeneezer (Scrooge). I mean, they already emulate him. "... if they are to die they had better do it now, and decrease the surplus population!"
How appropriate would it be, particularly at this time of year? Marley's Ghost would have several million new "friends" to visit, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas-Yet-to-Come would be working a significant amount of Holiday Overtime. (Union workers, consult your contracts for the details...)
Seriously, the truly sad part is that the lessons of Jesus' "whatsoever ye do unto the least of these" parable, as documented in Matthew 25 verses 34-46, seems to be completely lost on many far-right "Christians." This is both interesting and rather sad, because I was raised in a fundamentalist Southern Christian tradition. I learned this lesson, so why didn't they? This is the very reason I do not refer to myself as "Christian." I am nothing like them, and I refuse to be even remotely associated with them.
Hi-Jack OFF
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My apologies. We now return you to the regularly-scheduled thread.
-- Nighteyes, who follows the teachings of Christ as he understands them
Last edited by Nighteyes; 12-13-2013 at 11:21 AM..
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