Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Desertdog on October 27, 2009, 08:07:46 PM
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I bet that the “One nation under God, indivisible” will be a very popular button, and I think this kid will be able to go to nursing school and not having to worry about the cost.
Home Depot worker wears 'under God' button more than year, then gets fired
By By BRYAN GARNER WPTV Newschannel 5
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/oct/23/home-depot-worker-wears-under-god-button-more/
OKEECHOBEE — Trevor Keezer didn’t start working at The Home Depot to make a religious statement. He just wanted to earn money for college.
“I want to go to school to become a nurse,” said the 20-year-old Okeechobee resident.
Keezer says for 19 months, ever since he started working as a cashier at The Home Depot in Okeechobee, he’s worn a button with an American flag on it that reads: “One nation under God, indivisible.”
Keezer sees the quotation, taken from the pledge of allegiance, as his way of supporting American troops at war, and of expressing his Christian faith.
In December, his older brother Army Spc. Steven Keezer Jr., is scheduled to deploy to Iraq for his second tour of duty.
For more than a year, Keezer says none of his managers mentioned the button on his Home Depot apron, except one supervisor who commented she liked it.
“She actually wanted to wear it,” Keezer said.
Then, last month, when he started bringing his Bible to work, Keezer says his manager confronted him about the button.
“That’s when I was told it had to come off, or I would be sent home. So they sent me home for six straight days without pay. And then today they terminated me,” he said.
Craig Fishel, a spokesman for The Home Depot, said he could not comment on specific personnel issues, but added, “The company’s dress code policy states that we do not allow noncompany buttons, regardless of their message or content.”
Fishel says Home Depot has a “proud history” of supporting the military, and that it sanctions several of its own buttons for employees to wear, including one that reads: “United We Stand.”
Keezer said he preferred to wear his button because “you can’t have country without God. Every pin they showed me had no ‘God’ on it or anything.”
Fishel says the company gives employees several warnings when they violate the dress policy before terminating them.
But Keezer says, “It never crossed my mind to take off the button because I’m standing for something that’s bigger than I am. They kept telling me the severity of what you’re doing and I just let God be in control and went with His plan.”
Keezer says he was a model employee at Home Depot and he liked his job.
“I was cashier of the month and I’ve won six ‘Homer’ awards — that’s the highest award you can get at Home Depot.”
Keezer has the support of his family. “I’m so proud of him,” said his mother, Francine.
Local business owners are rallying to his cause, too.
Jim McCoin, owner of Cowboy’s Barbecue and Steak Co., said, “Amen. I am proud of him. If you can’t stand for what you believe in, then why be there.”
McCoin says he’d like to order some of the “One nation under God” buttons for the employees of his two local restaurants.
As for Keezer, he says he didn’t set out to make a religious statement, but now that he has, he believes he’s done the right thing.
“I want to be a voice for the rest of the Christians and for the citizens of this country to stand up for the country. You know, quit being told to sit down. Say what you want to say and don’t be afraid of the consequences,” he said.
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So is he working at Cowboy’s Barbecue and Steak now or did Jim McCoin just use this for publicity?
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My best guess: the Home Depot manager is very soon going to find himself flipping burgers all over again.
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you greatly overestimate the intelligence of home depot corporate management
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment
I'm trying to be outraged. Okay, not really.
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I guess they didn't like his piece of flair.
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I guess they didn't like his piece of flair.
You stole my comment. Comment-stealer. =(
+1. There. =D
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I guess they didn't like his piece of flair.
good thing I'm not drinking tonight, cause giggled and snorted...
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So... he broke a company policy. Repeatedly and purposefully. Doesn't sound like he has a leg to stand on for a wrongful termination suit. Least not in my book.
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Let me try to work up some outrage on this one...
-knowingly broke company policy
-was warned that continuing to do so would be cause for termination
-continued
-terminated
Yeah... I'm just not feeling any sympathy...
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The former employee doesn't have a legal leg to stand on in this. He violated knowingly company policy and was warned several times. The only thing that might hurt them is that they let it slide for a year.
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........................
“I want to be a voice for the rest of the Christians ........................
kid your mindless support of useless criminal wars does not speak for me. Take what happened as a Warning from Above. Just maybe God does bot Want to be wrapped in any flag.
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Let me try to work up some outrage on this one...
-knowingly broke company policy
-was warned that continuing to do so would be cause for termination
-continued
-terminated
Yeah... I'm just not feeling any sympathy...
For more than a year, Keezer says none of his managers mentioned the button on his Home Depot apron, except one supervisor who commented she liked it.
If he had worn if for over a year AND the company had that policy for over a year, that's tacit approval. Changing their minds and enforcing it NOW looks like they had some other reason to go after him.
I'm fine that Home Depot fired him. I hope they're ready for the consequences, though.
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If he had worn if for over a year AND the company had that policy for over a year, that's tacit approval. Changing their minds and enforcing it NOW looks like they had some other reason to go after him.
I'm fine that Home Depot fired him. I hope they're ready for the consequences, though.
I'm pretty sure that company policy is still in effect even if you've never been "caught" breaking it and even if one supervisor (or many) don't call you out on it. I'm just about positive that I can be fired in any state for sleeping with my boss (which she'd have to approve of) if there's a policy against fraternization, even if it went on for 19 months before hand.
I'm also pretty sure it's a moot point since Florida is an "at will employment" state. It's not likely this kid has a leg to stand on from a "Home Depot should be ready for the consequences" viewpoint. Particularly since they told him he could stay and work if he removed the button. It isn't like they fired him summarily the first time it got stuck in their craw. He chose to fight the good fight, now he needs to choose which new place he wants to work.
Nope, no outrage from house on this one.
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If he had worn if for over a year AND the company had that policy for over a year, that's tacit approval. Changing their minds and enforcing it NOW looks like they had some other reason to go after him.
I'm fine that Home Depot fired him. I hope they're ready for the consequences, though.
I actually had a case where I changed our policies for our business. Talked to our lawyer, and as long as we aren't discriminating against someone, we could do pretty much what we wanted to. Unless he can prove that he was expressly discriminated against for his specific religious views, he pretty much doesn't have a leg to stand on.
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I'm also pretty sure it's a moot point since Florida is an "at will employment" state. It's not likely this kid has a leg to stand on from a "Home Depot should be ready for the consequences" viewpoint. Particularly since they told him he could stay and work if he removed the button. It isn't like they fired him summarily the first time it got stuck in their craw. He chose to fight the good fight, now he needs to choose which new place he wants to work.
As I said, I'm fine with them firing him- meaning, I believe they have the right to do so.
Consequences will be dealt by the market. Quite a few people will voice their displeasure and choose Lowes or Menards. Me, for instance.
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Quite a few people will voice their displeasure and choose Lowes or Menards. Me, for instance.
I'd be surprised if either of those don't have similar dress code policies. A good, honest, hardware store that truly allows free expression from their employees via non-company buttons is hard to find these days.
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Trevor Keezer didn’t start working at The Home Depot to make a religious statement.
orly?
Then, last month, when he started bringing his Bible to work
=|
I wonder what is really going on here. This sounds like one of those rules they only enforce to get rid of someone they don't want around anymore. I get away with murder at most of my jobs because I'm a good employee, if his boss is so eager to can him I'm wondering about his usefulness to the company. And why do you bring the bible to work? You come to work to work, not read. I don't need a religious speech when I'm buying flooring.
A good, honest, hardware store that truly allows free expression from their employees via non-company buttons is hard to find these days.
If I owned a place it would be "no buttons, except the ones we give you".
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And why do you bring the bible to work? You come to work to work, not read. I don't need a religious speech when I'm buying flooring.
I'd assume he brought it for breaks and lunches. Nothing wrong with that.
However, wilfully defy policy and you get fired. My outrage o' meter fails to move on this one.
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kid your mindless support of useless criminal wars does not speak for me. Take what happened as a Warning from Above. Just maybe God does bot Want to be wrapped in any flag.
This has nothing to do with a legal war that Congress voted on and passed, but everything to do with willfully violating company policy and being terminated as a result.
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This has nothing to do with a legal war that Congress voted on and passed, but everything to do with willfully violating company policy and being terminated as a result.
Please don't feed the trolls.
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I'd assume he brought it for breaks and lunches. Nothing wrong with that.
However, wilfully defy policy and you get fired. My outrage o' meter fails to move on this one.
Yeah, we don't know why he brought his Bible. I once read through the gospels on my work breaks. No big deal.
Mr. Keezer seems to be accepting the consequences. I don't see anything in the article about a lawsuit. Still, too bad somebody has to lose a job over a button like that. Let us hope they apply the policy evenly, to gay pride buttons and Hope and Change buttons.
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Mr. Keezer seems to be accepting the consequences. I don't see anything in the article about a lawsuit. Still, too bad somebody has to lose a job over a button like that. Let us hope they apply the policy evenly, to gay pride buttons and Hope and Change buttons.
Do they have to? It's their company, after all.
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If they didn't, that would be a reason to boycott.
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Do they have to? It's their company, after all.
No, they don't have to, but the policy states "company buttons only." So I hope they apply it fairly. Don't you?
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No, they don't have to, but the policy states "company buttons only." So I hope they apply it fairly. Don't you?
Considering I am not a Home Depot employee, and only rarely a Home Depot customer, and further, not a Christian in any way, shape or, form, no, I don't really care.
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Considering I am not a Home Depot employee, and only rarely a Home Depot customer, and further, not a Christian in any way, shape or, form, no, I don't really care.
I fail to see how any of the criteria you listed apply to the situation.
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I fail to see how any of the criteria you listed apply to the situation.
Isn't this a thread about a Home Depot employee fired for beng open about his religious beliefs?
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And if you're not a woman, you shouldn't have an opinion about abortion? ;/
Yes, of course legally Home Depot ought to be allowed to hang a "No Christians Allowed; Gay Militant Atheist Democrats Welcome" sign.
But there is no reason why you or I shouldn't express an opinion about it. IF, and that's an "if" over there, IF Home Depot is enforcing this policy on God buttons, but ignoring policy violations from environmentalist buttons or gun-rights buttons, then I would expect you to also be put off by such. It's dishonest, if nothing else.
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imho he was let go for political reasons and they used "policy"
as a cover story, I expect Loews etc to get a boost in Florida
lots of Christians there will buy elsewhere.
Funny enough, I got fired for by Christians once ( in Florida )
for liking different parts of the Bible and not going along with them.
They saw me reading on my break, and said "oh how nice"
& I replied "its better then Melrose Place, lots of sex and violence"
They got real angry and asked me what I was talking about, I can't remeber now...maybe Midian ...but anyway I got let go for something else that everyone was doing.
I am a Christian still though, just without a Church to go to or any other Christians to hang out with.
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But there is no reason why you or I shouldn't express an opinion about it.
Sure.
But then on the other hand:
Suppose the guy had been coming to work with a button that says ABORTION IS REALLY AWESOME. Or some atheist button. Do you think you would be equally outraged if he were fired?
Now, I am not trying to allege hypocrisy here - that'd be cheap.
My point is: there's no civil rights issue involved (except under current law). There's no civil right (except as invented by leftists) to get hired.
So, somewhere out there, a store which sells products I rarely buy fires a guy belonging to a social majority I don't belong to. Probably not the most fair thing in the world, no. But there are far greater injustices, even in America, even inflicted on Christians.
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Suppose the guy had been coming to work with a button that says ABORTION IS REALLY AWESOME. Or some atheist button. Do you think you would be equally outraged if he were fired?
It's like you haven't read a single word I've said, and you're just reacting to what you would have expected me to say.
First of all, I'm not outraged. I think they have a right to ban "flair," and to fire anyone that wears it. I thought I made that pretty clear.
Secondly, I've been saying they should apply the policy fairly. How much more explicit could I be?
My point is: there's no civil rights issue involved (except under current law). There's no civil right (except as invented by leftists) to get hired.
Then why are you arguing with me? I agree with you. ???
So, somewhere out there, a store which sells products I rarely buy fires a guy belonging to a social majority I don't belong to. Probably not the most fair thing in the world, no. But there are far greater injustices, even in America, even inflicted on Christians.
Sigh. Nobody said it was the Spanish Inquisition. I didn't say you had to care. I DO find it funny that you spend so much time in this thread, claiming not to care about the subject you've posted on a number of times by now. :rolleyes:
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Somewhat ironic, yes.
He wouldn't be our beloved MB The Deliberately Obtuse, otherwise. ;)
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I don't think posting in a thread qualifies as 'caring' all that much.
Otherwise we'd all qualify as 'very concerned' about... I don't know, any of the silly things people post about.
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Oh, wait. It seems he's threatening to sue now. I'm not so sure he has anything to sue over. On the other hand, making a federal case out of every little thing has worked for the left, so...
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=111&sid=1796146
I don't think posting in a thread qualifies as 'caring' all that much.
Nor do I.
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I don't think posting in a thread qualifies as 'caring' all that much.
Otherwise we'd all qualify as 'very concerned' about... I don't know, any of the silly things people post about.
Ahh, but not posting at all, that shows you really don't give a hoot.
As for the OP, lose the flair, bucko, if management & policy so dictate. Although, getting after him after/because he brought a Bible to read is something to get a bit frisky about.