Fired for being Wiccan

[gremcint]

http://www.examiner.com/x-18484-Sacramento-Pagan-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m10d26-A-boycott-against-Bath-and-Body-Works

New manager asks her why she has to take off the same days off every year, and she explains about Samhain and that she's a Wiccan.

Her manager replied, “that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, let me ask you where your priorities should have been?” Uberti asked what was so ridiculous and was told, “Well, you will need a new career in your new year” and “I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team.” Uberti was fired shortly after the phone call.

[guywithashovel]

I just left a comment on that page. I used the name "Adrian I."

Personally, I don't think it's fair to lash out against the entire company over it. As I said in my comment on that page, if I had a business as big as BBW, I'm sure I'd end up unintentionally employing a few jerks, too.

[jackfaire]

You kind of have to because the girl should be given her job back and the manager in question fired for discrimination.

[Amina516]

You kind of have to because the girl should be given her job back and the manager in question fired for discrimination.

I agree. A company that big isnt going to listen to a little bit of bitching, but they will pay attention if their profits go down.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I imagine that pagan woman is going to make some lawyer somewhere very, very happy. And rightly so.

I am assuming this company does not discriminate based on religion? At least on paper somewhere? That should be a slam dunk in a courtroom for her on adiscriminaton suit.

[shroo]

Huh. I'm pagan (although in regards to my professional life I keep that aspect private)...and when I worked at BBW a few years ago my manager was pagan, too; she was, without a doubt, the best boss I ever had. Actually, when it comes to retail I was happiest at BBW. This is more of a fluke than a common occurence.


...however, I'm a little leery about going to Salem for Samhain. I love Salem for the shops and such, but on Halloween it's more like a drunken mob house filled with prostitots and frat boys, not the ideal place for honoring those loved and lost.

Not to mention I have a bug up my ass because Salem is famous because a few bratty girls played make believe and people got greedy for the lands of their neighbors, not because it really is the mecca for pagans...but that's just me.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Not to mention I have a bug up my ass because Salem is famous because a few bratty girls played make believe and people got greedy for the lands of their neighbors, not because it really is the mecca for pagans...but that's just me.

I know, right? The whole thing that made the Salem Witch Trials so messed up was the fact that none of these poor people were witches. :confused: ( I mean, not that that would have made it okay, but you know what I mean.)

[jackfaire]

none of these poor people were witches.

So what your saying if those people were witches it would be ok? :mad:

J/K

No I agree though people treat it as if it is this big pagan destination which really is kind of morbid for the simple fact that it truly has nothing to do with pagan anything except for the fodder for a ton of fantasies all based in the area.

[shroo]

I know, right? The whole thing that made the Salem Witch Trials so messed up was the fact that none of these poor people were witches.

Thankfully there are a few museums who go "Look, this is the basis of witchcraft <insert really cool exhibits on herbs and meditations and the like>. The Salem Witch Trials had nothing to do with witchcraft, it was all politics. Thank you very much, buy a t-shirt."

It's just too bad there are far more assholes who profit on the sensationalism, but that's a rant for another time.
Sorry for the threadjack.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

( I mean, not that that would have made it okay, but you know what I mean.)

Evidently, you DON'T know what I mean.

No. It would not have made it right. See above statment. Again.

My point is that none of the people that were hanged, and in one case crushed to death, were witches, although that was what they were charged with. If they had been, it still would have been horrible, but at least it would explain why it it now "the Witch City."

That Salem is now a mecca for witchcraft makes no sense, unless you factor in that there is $$$ to be made cashing in on the horrific history of the place. There were no more witches in Salem than there were in any other place in history. There were just more bored schoolgirls and stupid, evil adults.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. :( The stuff you have to spell out and include a power point presentation for around here....

[BroomJockey]

Evidently, you DON'T know what I mean.
If you meant this:

So what your saying if those people were witches it would be ok? :mad:



You missed this:

J/K

If not, I'm not sure what you were directing it towards.

[the_std]

So what your saying if those people were witches it would be ok? :mad:

J/K

Uhm, RK, I think you missed an essential part of jackfaire's post, there. Bolded and highlighted for your benefit. What was that about a powerpoint?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Am I missing something? I'm not seeing something here.

[BroomJockey]

Am I missing something? I'm not seeing something here.

J/K = Just kidding, is I'm assuming what you're missing.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh. :o

You know what? I have this terrible habit. If I see something I don't understand written like that, my brain does not even register it. Most acronyms (or stuff like this) might as well be written with invisible ink.

I mean, you guys kept putting it in front of me, and for the life of me, I was not getting it.

Sorry, JackFaire. Didn't mean to get irritated with you. I just didn't understand what you were saying. I can be a little dense. :o

[HYHYBT]

How do you go about proving something like this? (the firing-over-religion, not the misunderstanding each other's posts)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I think this pretty much tears it:

"Her manager replied, “that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, let me ask you where your priorities should have been?” Uberti asked what was so ridiculous and was told, “Well, you will need a new career in your new year” and “I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team.” Uberti was fired shortly after the phone call."

Although I guess one could argue that it would her word against her boss'.

[Arcade Man D]

I think this pretty much tears it:

"Her manager replied, “that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, let me ask you where your priorities should have been?” Uberti asked what was so ridiculous and was told, “Well, you will need a new career in your new year” and “I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team.” Uberti was fired shortly after the phone call."

Although I guess one could argue that it would her word against her boss'.

Something tells me someone who reacted like that wouldn't be able to keep his yap shut about it in court. Especially if, say, the plaintiff were to be wearing a pentacle necklace (yes, I know not all Wiccans like wearing pentacles, but a few other Wiccan symbols could serve the same purpose).

[Slytovhand]

Holiday had already been approved, had been for the last 8 years...

They're already fighting an up-hill battle! And, since it's already gone to the civil stage, it would imply that the company as a whole doesn't have much to say on the matter. One would have thought that they would have issued some form of official stance or letter by now... especially to the ex-employee.

The problem is also that it shouldn't matter what a person does on their holidays.. whether it's to go to a religious event, or just play video games

[fireheart17]

Something tells me someone who reacted like that wouldn't be able to keep his yap shut about it in court. Especially if, say, the plaintiff were to be wearing a pentacle necklace (yes, I know not all Wiccans like wearing pentacles, but a few other Wiccan symbols could serve the same purpose).

Any symbol could serve the wrong purpose. Especially if it's inverted (i.e. inverted pentacles=Satanism.)

From memory, a quick note to people: most Wiccan codes go by a few basic beliefs. One of these is "to be silent." The idea is that when you do Wiccan things, such as casting spells and such, that you don't go around telling people that you did them. Mostly because of the law of three. if the intention is to provoke fear, then that's basically causing harm to someone. And the law of three comes bounding back faster than you think.

In regards to the story, the boss is an idiot. The employee however, could've just as easily said that it was to visit family. Unfortunately, it sounds more like the boss is one of those who believes that Christianity is the ONE TRUE RELIGION....

[Flyndaran]

The people killed in Salem witch trial couldn't have been wiccan as that religion was a product of the 20th century.

Witch back then meant devil worshiper which I doubt very many if any people actually were. I mean why worship the loser of a fight?

[Boozy]

I mean, you guys kept putting it in front of me, and for the life of me, I was not getting it.

I had no idea what "J/K" meant either. It was an important enough part of the post (to prevent misunderstandings) that it should have been spelled out, I think.

If you're too busy to type out a few words, come back and make your post at a later date. ;)

[BroomJockey]

It was an important enough part of the post (to prevent misunderstandings) that it should have been spelled out, I think.

If you're too busy to type out a few words, come back and make your post at a later date. ;)

J/K is about as common on most parts of the internet as "lol." It's a basic net acronym that it is not unreasonable to assume most people know, or can at least figure out. I assume the bulk of the issue comes not from it not being spelled out, but RK's quirk of blindness.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

In all honesty, I glanced at it and thought it was the poster's initials. It started with a J, and I've seen posters who sign their posts, so I just dismissed the "initials" without really seeing them.

It only began to dawn on me that they were otherwise significant until they had been pointed out a couple times.

Sorry, guys. :o Not the first time I've dismissed something crucial like that.

[BroomJockey]

Sorry, guys. :o Not the first time I've dismissed something crucial like that.

I misjudged the entire premise of a thread yesterday. I can't be too hard on you. :D

[bunnyboy]

Any symbol could serve the wrong purpose. Especially if it's inverted (i.e. inverted pentacles=Satanism.)

Or Second Degree Brit Trad Wicca, or neo-pythagorean...

Much like the inverted cross, it wasn't considered ZOMG teh EEEEEVUL until Ephias Levi wrote his book.

I mean how many people know that the inverted cross is actually a pretty damn holy symbol in it's own right (it's also known as the Cross of St. Peter, due to him traditionally being crucified upside down.)

That and the majority of Satanists aren't evil either.

*goes off to grumble*

[Parrothead]

The "Employee" was the District manager, the "boss" was the new regional manager

[Nyoibo]

To add insult to injury, she hired the person who fired her.

[jackfaire]

whether it's to go to a religious event, or just play video games

Or both WINTEREENMAS!!!