Ethics

Silly Religious Accommodation Case

By Ed Brayton

Liberty Counsel, Jerry Falwell's third rate legal group, has dredged up yet another case of feigned persecution. They've filed an EEOC complaint on behalf of a woman who refused to answer the phones at her job by saying "Happy Holidays" because it was against her religion to contribute to the secularization of Christmas. She ended up being fired over it.

In late November, all company employees were told to answer the phones by saying, "Happy Holidays from Counts Oakes Resort Properties. How may I assist you?" Thomas objected to her supervisor and offered to say either "Merry Christmas" or to continue greeting callers the same way they are greeted throughout the year. She explained that her religious beliefs prevented her from contributing to the secularization of Christmas, and asked for an accommodation of her beliefs. On December 10, when the company president, Andy Phillips, came to see her, she politely reiterated her concern. Phillips then fired her for "insubordination" because she refused to say "Happy Holidays."

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on December 30, 2008 (boomark / email).