Employees fired for not joining Christian prayer

Jun 29, 2022
411 views
0 comments
Share
Background Checks

Two employees of a North Carolina-based company allege that they were fired after refusing to participate in the company's daily Christian prayer meetings which they said went against their religious beliefs. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against the company with the US District Court in Greensboro seeking a jury trial.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of John McGaha, a construction manager at Aurora Pro Services, and Mackenzie Saunders a customer services representative at the Greensboro Residential Services company. The plaintiffs are represented by Mary Kate Littlejohn, a Greenville, South Carolina Attorney. In the lawsuit, EEOC mentions that daily prayer meetings were part of the firm's business model although there is no mention of such activities on their website. Attendance at the prayer meetings was mandatory for all employees and considered a condition of their employment regardless of their personal beliefs or affiliations. The complaint also highlights instances where prayers were requested and offered "for poor-performing employees who were identified by name". The company owner took attendance at such meetings and reprimanded employees who didn't attend.

McGahan joined the company in June 2020 and identifies himself as an atheist. He said that the prayer meetings which initially lasted for 15 minutes stretched in length to around 45 minutes. Saunders who joined Aurora in November 2020 identifies herself as an agnostic and corroborated this statement. The longer the prayer the more intolerable it became. McGahan was once even asked to lead a Christian prayer which he refused. After asking the owner constantly to be rescued from such meetings McGahan was fired when he refused to attend. His base pay was reduced to $400 from $800 and his commission was withheld. Soon after, in January 2021 Saunders refused to attend the meetings as well and was fired.

The lawsuit also urges a permanent injunction to prevent the company from engaging in such employment practices that discriminate on the basis of religion.

Source: The Washington Post

411 views
0 comments

Tags In

Previous days news

Jun 27 Jun 24 Jun 22 Jun 20 Jun 17

Best tech jobs in the United States : BLS data

Sep 06, 2022
1396 views
0 comments
Background Checks

For several reasons, the IT sector is appealing to job seekers. ...Read more

Salaries for Californian fast food employees might rise to $22 per hour

Sep 06, 2022
853 views
0 comments
Background Checks

Despite the opposition of restaurant owners who worried it would raise customers' bills, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a nation-leading law providing more than 500,000 fast food employees additional authority and rights. ...Read more

Workers leave as job dissatisfaction grows

Aug 17, 2022
1432 views
0 comments
Background Checks

Demands for improved pay and workplace environments are coming from workers in California to New York. ...Read more

Microsoft offers graduates from African nations job prospects in the US & Canada

Aug 17, 2022
840 views
0 comments
Background Checks

New graduates from institutions in Nigeria and other African nations have been made aware of job prospects by Microsoft. ...Read more

Casper is hiring professional sleepers

Aug 10, 2022
1438 views
0 comments
Background Checks

A mattress company is searching for a role where napping while working is not only acceptable but also required. 'Casper Sleepers' are being hired by Casper, a New York-based business established in 2014. ...Read more

Employees fired for not joining Christian prayer

Employees fired for not joining Christian prayer

Tags In

Others news

Category

Tags

Articles