I work in retail, operating a cash register. This is a job I've proudly had for two years and have always been liked by my customers.
On Wednesday, a man came through my line with a disgusting black smudge on his forehead...I reached under my counter and handed him a tissue while making a motion with my hand over my forehead (trying to give this gentleman the hint he needs to wipe his forehead).
Not getting the hint, the guy asked 'what are you inferring', to which I told him about the mess on his forehead.
This gentleman was IRATE and asked to see my manager...
Yesterday, I was fired from my job for not respecting others beliefs....how on earth could I get fired for telling a guy about a mess on his forehead and offering a tissue???
If I have something hanging from my nose, I would liked to be notified...
2007-02-23 01:12:52 · 8 answers · asked by Ted Arcidi 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Hi, I work in HR and actually to answer your main question, yes you can be fired for that. Anyone can be fired for any reason, since most of us without a contract are "at will" employees. Your lack of knowledge about common religious practices got you into trouble. As others have explained on Ash Wednesday Catholics have ashes or ashed and oil put on their foreheads, it's to commemorate a religious event I won't go into. It would be link asking a Hindu to wipe of the Bindi they wear between the eyes, as a representative of the third eye. It would be seen as insensitive and insulting. In a customer related position, this can be bad enough to let you go. I think it might have been a bit of an overreaction and that someone simply could have educated you about Ash Wednesday and apologized to the man. Perhaps a warning could have been issued to you instead. No matter what I think, they let you go and you won't have grounds to fight, what would be a costly battle anyway. Good luck on your next job, and take this as a hard lesson to never mention anything about personal appearance to a customer. Good luck.
2007-02-23 01:58:46 · answer #1 · answered by hrland 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OHHHH...silly goose! that was them ashes the Catholics get on their foreheads for Ash Friday.
Sue the company; you can't be fired for "Not Respecting Others Beliefs" when you OBVIOUSLY don't know what they beliefs are, you offered a tissue, he didn't have to be a dick about it...niether did yo' boss
2007-02-23 09:22:22 · answer #2 · answered by full_tilt_boogie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's horrible... it was Ash Wednesday and yeah they do look like dirt smudges. That's crazy that you could be fired for that. The customer should have just informed you that, "it's Ash Wednesday, it's suppose to be like that" That's just crazy, but hey it could have been worse, he could have started preaching to you! Good luck in your job hunt!
2007-02-23 09:35:21 · answer #3 · answered by Jyse 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should have asked him about it. He is Catholic and they put ashes on their forehead for Lent. Chalk this up to "diversity training". They probably fired, I am just making a guess here, you because what you did CAN be construed and religious persecution.
2007-02-23 09:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by R Worth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like a unjust firing.Can you speak to someone else other than who fired you?
2007-02-23 09:21:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
well considering it was Ash Wednesday you should have been fired
2007-02-23 09:29:49 · answer #6 · answered by KP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HAHAHHAHAHA that was so funny.
2007-02-23 09:18:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell me ur joking....
2007-02-23 10:02:24 · answer #8 · answered by rollindem20z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋