Quote:
Originally posted by octothorp@Aug 4 2004, 07:50 PM
Interesting article, the only problem is it's not religious descrimination--I don't believe there's anything specified in the catholic faith that says you must eat pork. The woman is not being fired because she's following her religion, nor is the policy of the company interferring with her ability to practice her religion. She's being fired for carrying out a custom (allowed but not required by her religion) which offends the religious beliefs of the majority of her coworkers.
That said, is it really against the Qur'ran allow others to eat pork, or to work in a workplace in which pork is eaten? If not, it's not really a religious belief, either--simply one custom against another custom. And I'm not sure about the legality around that. Companies limit the rights of their employees all the time, and as long as it doesn't interfere with the religion or health of their employees, it seems to be completely acceptable. The issue in this case will probably end up being whether the woman in question was properly informed of the policy.
On the other hand, maybe she just didn't realize that ham and bacon come from the same animal.
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The owner basically said: "I fired her because eating a ham sandwich is against my religious beliefs, not hers."
I doubt very much you can establish a company policy outlawing ham sandwiches on pain of firing.
I think the owner was sincere in his comments, basically a cultural misunderstanding, but he's in America now and he's going to learn the lesson that he can't act in the manner that he did.
Cowperson