Ok, I don't understand this at all. Do you think someone should be fired because of a "religious" email?

Question

This is in reference to this question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071205103443AAXGwWr&r=w#TMcvXTHuVDcn9by6vn.DF.ZEJWGfbKgoplrxle.9sGTjhWeQLYzE

Some people responded saying the lady should be fired or be sued. If she is not in a government job, or a teacher at a public school...what is the justification for either of these opinions? Are we no longer free to express our beliefs in public? The email was not negative in any way, what in the email is offensive to anyone?

I just don't get it. Some of you really need to not be so uptight and so easily offended. This is what is wrong with society right now. People are too easily offended and cry about everything. Relax a bit people, enjoy life and don't feel like a "religious" email has somehow dramatically reduced your "rights".

What I really want to know is this, On what basis would be justified in firing or suing this lady?

problem and TriciaG28: It may be "wrong", but "wrong" is not a basis for firing or a lawsuit. Are you going to tell the judge, she was "wrong" so I'm suing her?

problem and TriciaG28: It may be "wrong", but "wrong" is not a basis for firing or a lawsuit. Are you going to tell the judge, she was "wrong" so I'm suing her?

"misappropriation of company time and resources"

Ok, how many are at work right now?

How many of you have ever checked personel email at work?

How many of you have surfed the net on a slow day?

Not a strong argument.

And that is fine to fire her for misusing the companies email. But they better be firing everyone who sends a non-work email...or then you have a discrimination lawsuit. The email policies are usually in place, but usually a warning is given for a first offense.

Kallan, you must be a blast at the office parties. Do they even invite you?

If my muslim manager sent me something similar...I would be happy that his religion makes him happy. Do you people really live your lives like this? That is pretty damn depressing. I don't think I have ever met a "fun" HR person.

Answer 1

I think firing her cannot be justified at all and neither is it a solution. After all, it's just an e-mail (probably one of those chain mail things).

It would be childish to fire someone because of that or even to get angry with her at all. I would get angry with such co-worker only if he/she exposes me to those things on a daily basis.

But a ''religious'' mail at this time of the year is not an offence. At least not to me.

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Answer 2

Think of it this way: Your Muslim supervisor sends out an email along the same lines which you interpret as his promotion of Islam. Now you feel like your supervisor expects you to positively respond to Islam, if not start converting. You feel incredibly uncomfortable and worry that, if you don't follow your supervisor's lead, you will lose your job.

This is why religion does not belong in the workplace. This woman should be reminded that such religious proclamations create tension in a workplace and should be kept private. I could definitely see how her subordinates would have a case to take to HR regarding this woman's injecting religion into the workplace where it does not belong.

A lawsuit might be stretching it a bit, if this is the first time she has done something like this. It simply creates an environment where subordinates feel they must agree with the opinions of their supervisor or suffer repercussions. That is not acceptable in a professional workplace free of discrimination.

Answer 3

Texas is an "at will" employment state like various 50 states (besides the shown fact that Montana has a limited regulation). this suggests you are going to be enable decide for any reason at any time. plainly that the vendors of the organisation used this coverage to enable you to bypass. For soem reason they do in comparison to you, perhaps they think of you stomp on different worker's clientele to get your very own revenues, perhaps they concept your hair replaced into messy sooner or later, perhaps they must do away with 1 worker they pulled names from a hat and you lost. Writing a letter won't get you everywhere. Do you think of a organisation that did this may even respond? merely flow on. FYI - considering the fact which you do no longer understand the clarification it may no longer somewhat be noted as misconduct. prepare for unemployment.

Answer 4

I think if that was my employee, I would first just warn her and see what the attitude is that I recieve in response (most people will just stop sending things like that if you ask them to). I've recieved tons of these from co-workers in the past... I just delete them, but we do have a policy that states if caught using company resources for personal use you can be subject to corrective actions up to termination of employment (which everyone disregards without reprimand)... BUT because we all use our common sense, we just push the delete button and ask that person not to send us things of that nature (if necessary). They usually comply without giving it a second thought.

It IS technically grounds for termination where I work, but unless its something that has been an ongoing issue that has been dealt with in the past- I don't see why it should matter.

Answer 5

There is no grounds for suit. However, email policies in most private businesses are spelled out. It is really very simple--if it does not pertain to business--then use of the company email system is not appropriate and is specified in most policies as grounds for termination. This has nothing to do about rights. You have no right to use the company email server for your own amusements--you work for a business-if the email does not pertain to that business it is very simple. People are fired for sending jokes over the company email net, receipes, you name it. So this has nothing to do with religion. If she was given a copy of the company email policy when it came out, and she violated it, then basically she was wrong and needs to accept whatever consequences her actions caused her.

Answer 6

On the basis that she shouldn't be proselytizing her religious beliefs or perpetuating them on others in the workplace. Since the original questioner indicated that this woman was in a place of authority, this would be a violation of eeoc laws... this could be considered a hostile working environment. This woman is in a place to discrimminate against those who don't share her belief in "God", and by the very virtue of her email, she could be setting the entire company up for a lawsuit. The working environment is not the place for religious beliefs.

Answer 7

It is a matter of boundaries. Not everyone chooses to be a Christian. They may choose something else, or not to be religious at all. They have the right not to be subjected to someone else's religious propaganda and that is not a matter of being "uptight." It is a matter of basic human rights. Would it be ok to email athiest stuff to everyone in the office? Not only would I fire her and sue her, I would publicly ridicule her. If that upsets someone, I think they are too easily offended.

Answer 8

Fired for one email? No. Disciplined, yes. She needs to be told not to ever do that again. Not everyone is Christian, and she is... foisting her religious beliefs on others irregardless of how they may feel about it. Its disrespectful, potentially a huge trouble causing problem, and its childish.

To send it to those she knows would agree with her sentiments would be fine, but to send it to everyone is taking it too far.

Answer 9

Suing? I see no basis for that? Firing? For using company time and resources to preach to fellow employees? Without a doubt.

Answer 10

She should be reprimanded for doing a spam email to everyone in the workplace. Its the same as spamming everyone trying to sell Tupperware. Pushing your religion onto someone else by using the workplace email shouldn't be allowed.