I'm a Christian and the majority of my coworkers are Jehovah's Witnesses. Am I wrong on this?

Question

I've been working at a spa for 9 months. I work every other Sat & the next I get Sat-Mon off so I don't work OT. I was scheduled to be off the weekend of xmas due to working the wkends b4 and after. I booked a flight for my husband and I to visit our family, which we haven't been able to do in years. Then I noticed my office manager (who is JW) put me back on the schedule to work. I brought it up to her that I wouldn't be in town, in which she replied everyone was required to work because they think they will sell a lot of gift certificates (last year nobody came in, the owner made people wrap her kid's xmas presents.) Then I noticed she gave two other girls the weekend off. When I asked where they were going they said an assembly for church. They are I'm a Christian and the majority of my coworkers are Jehovah's Witnesses. Am I wrong on this? Witnesses and are getting those days off and I'm a Christian and it's a religious holiday for me. I respect their religion but feel like they do

*don't respect mine. I've been there longer and put in double the hours. Am I wrong to be upset about this?

thanks for all of the answers, I told her before that I was taking the time off, bottom line. Weird thing is she's the manager but our owners are Christian. I could always take it to them.

I think some people aren't realizing that nobody put in for time off because we are not allowed to do that during the holidays. So they did not ask for time off before my. I was scheduled to be off and made plans. I've never had a problem with them changing my schedule before until one of the other girls, who just happens to be in her church and the other is her sister, wanted off for the assembly and she wanted me to work in place of them.

Answer 1

This question belongs in legal, rather than religion.

It seem unnecessary to determine who is "wrong" in this matter. In the United States, a business must make reasonable accommodation for an employee's religious convictions, including minority religious holidays, and gatherings such as Jehovah's Witness assemblies and conventions. It seems likely that the Jehovah's Witness employees understood this and worked within the guidelines of the law to get the time off for their bona fide religious purpose.

Despite what the manager might verbally say, if the employee puts it in writing several weeks ahead of time that she needs a particular day off for a specified bona fide religious reason, the manager must grant the time off. If the employee is fired, the EEOC will get involved to enforce the law and protect the rights of the employee.

Incidentally, Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians. A person who insists otherwise seems to be needlessly insulting and religiously bigoted.

Answer 2

1)Jehovah's Witnesses ARE Christian.
2)The owner does not share their beliefs, yet hires mostly Jehovah's Witnesses. That should tell you something.
3)I have never heard of ANY job where you could not request time off in advance. Doesn't make sense.
4)Do whatever you think you need to. Take off anyway and face whatever consequences there are or change your plans and work. Those are your choices. Afterward you can consider whether or not to change jobs or try and take legal action.

Answer 3

I would explain to your boss that you were originally not scheduled, that you have flight tickets, family plans, religious holiday and that you will report them to the board of labor if they chose not to respect you.They are obligated to pay you time & a half or even tripple time in some states and if you need the job & the money, I would stay & work. If its a replacable job, stand up for your rights!

Answer 4

I am also around alot of JW's. Some of them practice what they preach and some don't unfortunately!!
You need to let your boss know that you already have made unbreakable plans because you saw you were not on the schedule.
She needs to respect your wishes. She should of gave you more notice about you working.
I personally have found it very pleasant to work with JW's for the most part.
The owner must not be a JW - wrapping xmas gifts???


“All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matthew 7:12)

Answer 5

I am one of JWs. I have been employed for a number of decades in different businesses. A few things strike me.

The owner is not a JW. The manager is. The owner realizes JWs make good employees for their honesty and work efforts. In all my jobs, I noticed employees with the most seniority and who ask first get off days they speak up for.

I also notice in your description your schedule had you off the days you wanted. Did you say something about being out of town BEFORE your schedule was changed? I have found most managers, regardless of religion, when actually notified in advance they try to accommodate most employees.

Could it be as assembly dates are known about 6 mths. in advance, the two JWs were employed longer than you and asked before you?

Answer 6

You are NOT wrong on this! It is discrimination. You were scheduled off which is why you booked the flight in the first place. SHE changed the schedule without consulting you first in favor of letting JW co-workers off for an assembly. The JW knew when the assembly was long in advance and they should have marked the book earlier. It is not your fault they didn't follow protocol. I would tell her all of this calmly and tell her you will be taking your trip, period. If she has a problem with it and tries to fire you, first you are entitled to unemployment for unfounded termination and secondly HER butt will be the one in trouble. She will contest probably, you will meet with a mediator for unemployment and you will win. Take your trip, do not back down and have a very Merry Christmas!

Answer 7

Was advance notice given of your vacation?
If it was, politely tell her that when she approved your vacation you made plans and it's too late to reneg.

If not, try to reason with her, if she had no idea you booked a flight don't get upset with her, simply explain that you've invested in this trip already and can't change plans at this late stage.

Answer 8

You are right. They would try to keep you from celebrating this holiday...tell them that it is against your religion and you need to have it off,........You can tell them that you might put ha human interest story in your local paper...this might help.....they hate press.



Note: Notice that none of the Witnesses take your question at face value...If someone was a Witness and wanted to go to an assembly, their answers would be opposite of the answers that they gave to you....Try it ...wait awhile and post the question as a witness who needs time off to go to an assembly and see the way they will change their answer to you.

Answer 9

Sounds like there is more going on than you know about it. I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It could be that there is some clerical error so that they ended up being ahead of you for break time. It could be that you are a much more efficent sales clerk.

I love the fact that Jabbering Goat, who often claims to be a Christian, encourages the asker to lie.

Answer 10

i don't think you are wrong, but i don't think you will find a solution here on Yahoo.

personally, i would hand in my two-week notice and i would go on my planned trip. you cannot get the money back for the tickets.

it would be wrong for you to talk about this as a faith issue at work - simply let your manager know you will be making the trip you planned - that she knew about - and that the scheduling issues are her problem. if she needed you to work, she should have known that ahead and scheduled accordingly.