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rug

(82,333 posts)
Thu Jun 14, 2012, 06:59 AM Jun 2012

Religious discrimination lawsuit filed claiming Voss Lighting requires workers to be Christian

By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
Published: 6/14/2012 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 6/14/2012 3:38 AM

Being "a 'born-again' Christian" was required of a job applicant at a national lighting company's Tulsa location, a religious discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court this week claims.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit against Voss Lighting in Tulsa federal court on Tuesday.

Edward Wolfe applied for an operations supervisor position at Voss Lighting's Tulsa store in early 2011, according to the EEOC. The agency claims in the lawsuit that, during the application process, two local managers made numerous inquiries, "both subtle and overt," about Wolfe's religious activities and beliefs.

Wolfe allegedly was asked to identify every church he has attended over the past several years, where and when he was "saved" and the circumstances that led to that event, and whether he "would have a problem" coming into work early to attend Bible study before clocking in for the day.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=14&articleid=20120614_14_A1_Beinga699339

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Religious discrimination lawsuit filed claiming Voss Lighting requires workers to be Christian (Original Post) rug Jun 2012 OP
I was born fine the first time woodsprite Jun 2012 #1
If these facts are borne out he has a very strong claim. rug Jun 2012 #2
This 'business' is nothing but a front for evangelism. LuvNewcastle Jun 2012 #3
Wow, I hadn't checked their website. rug Jun 2012 #4
Here in the Bible Belt, there are many of these businesses LuvNewcastle Jun 2012 #5
Imagine the outrage edhopper Jun 2012 #6
I expect there'd be a lawsuit, not outrage. rug Jun 2012 #7
You don't think it would go edhopper Jun 2012 #9
Interesting site, but dimbear Jun 2012 #8

woodsprite

(11,945 posts)
1. I was born fine the first time
Thu Jun 14, 2012, 07:14 AM
Jun 2012

And if someone said I needed to show up for bible study as
a work requirement and it wasn't on the clock, no way.

And those are just the two most blatant tips of the iceberg. I hope
he wins the discrimination suit.

LuvNewcastle

(16,869 posts)
3. This 'business' is nothing but a front for evangelism.
Thu Jun 14, 2012, 07:52 AM
Jun 2012

The company's website says its "biblical mission is to 'sell' our lighting products so that we may 'tell' everyone we can about God's soul-saving, life-transforming gospel message as Jesus instructed believers to do."

It's sort of like a Hari Krishna 'business' that sells flowers at the airport, the only difference being that the Voss workers are presumably paid for their labor. People like that should hire by word-of-mouth if they don't want to get in trouble.

LuvNewcastle

(16,869 posts)
5. Here in the Bible Belt, there are many of these businesses
Thu Jun 14, 2012, 08:08 AM
Jun 2012

that cater to fundies. There's a niche market down here for people who prefer to patronize Christian businesses. Most other people avoid these businesses because of their usual lack of professionalism. It's basically a racket.

dimbear

(6,271 posts)
8. Interesting site, but
Thu Jun 14, 2012, 07:27 PM
Jun 2012

I'm skeptical of their claim that even if their bulbs do burn out, they come on again after three days but.....not everyone can see their light.

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