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Billy E. Hyatt is now suing his former employer for religious discrimination: He could not wear the number 666 because it's the Mark of the Beast in Revelations.

Hyatt worked on the extrusion line, making flexible packing products for Pliant Corp, which is now called Berry Plastics Corp.

"Plaintiff's sincere religious belief as a Christian is that he should not wear any depiction of the number '666' as this number is a representation of Satan and/or that this number is the 'sign of the beast,'" reads the complaint, filed in federal court. "This belief is based on Revelation 13:18 of the Holy Bible which says that '666' is the mark of the beast."

Continues the complaint: "Plaintiff['s] sincere religious belief is that to wear the number 666 would be to accept the Mark of the Beast and be condemned to hell."

The northern Georgia plant keeps a safety calendar recording the number of consecutive accident-free days, and workers then write the number on a sticker and wear it during their shift.

As the number of days crept into the 660 range, Hyatt—who had worked at the plant for more than two and a half years—discussed the issue with both his co-workers and his boss, Joe Richard. Richard told him not to worry—that perhaps there would be an accident, or that maybe they could let the calendar "stay at 665 for two days, or some other manipulation to prevent the safety calendar from displaying '666.'"

But the plant reached 666 accident-free days in a row on March 12, 2010. Hyatt asked his boss for "religious accommodation," but the boss said "that he was not going to change the safety calendar, that Mr. Hyatt's religious beliefs were ridiculous, and that Mr. Hyatt could go to work with a '666' on his safety sticker or face a three (3) day suspension."

Hyatt said he accepted the three-day suspension, but when he returned to work on March 17 he was fired.

He filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and his attorney, Stephen Mixon, told the Associated Press that the agency granted him the right to sue the company in August.

The company did not return calls and emails seeking comment, and has not responded yet in court.

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What do you think?

Join the conversation ( 111 )

Jim Nipe 3 months ago

You are aware that a fragment from the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament, dating to the Third century, gives the more mundane 616 as the mark of the Antichrist, right? And please understand that The Book Of Revelations is a thinly disguised political tract, with the names of those being criticized changed to numbers to protect the authors and early Christians from reprisals.
Michelle Emanuel 3 months ago

I think we should let the company know we are outraged and support Mr Hyatt!http://www.berryplastics.com/catalog/contact
- billy 7 days ago
  
  thanks..
- Patrick Carr 3 months ago
  
  I DO NOT support this religous nut!
Rod Dean 3 months ago

LOL....this has nothing to do with 'religious accomodation', the First amendment or anything of that nature. I'll bet that if you looked 'deep enough' into this situtation you will find that a company got rid of someone who was a continuing 'problem' for them because of the narrowness of his mind set. And judging on the way he 'rationalized' this issue...I'll bet they were right. LOL
Sterling Bushnell 3 months ago

665+1 would of been such a simple compramise
Anthony Harkin 3 months ago

He needs to contact the Alliance Defense Fund for representation.
Justin Petitt 3 months ago

This is a case of knowing which battles to fight. I understand that many employers have a uniform policy, and refusal to conform to the accepted uniform is grounds for termination of employment. However, in this instance, expecting one employee to comply to a policy for 1 day in a manner that would deeply offend said employee, and would in no way affect the ability to perform tasks at an optimal level, is simply ridiculous. Assuming that the employee brought their objection to a supervisor in a timely manner, as has been reported, there is no real reason that a satisfactory resolution could not have been reached between the two parties. Would other employees be offended if this employee was given a pass for 1 day? Who cares? Allow them to pass on the sticker as well. It's a sticker. It's one day. I've never heard of an atheist being upset to take a paid holiday for Christmas or Easter. If an employee had converted to a religion that said it was a sin to wear shoes, there might be an argument. But a sticker? For 1 day? Just for that I think I'll leave my nativity scene up till July. (it's usually down by spring)
- Greg Burke 3 months ago
  
  And you would continue to reflect foolishly on an ancient belief system that has very little relevance in the modern world. Like every other poster coming to this man's defense, according to your post you have ZERO understanding as to the nature of the manufacturing industry or the reason the sticker is used in the first place. Do a little research on the history of the manufacturing industry, the regulations that govern it and the safety practices that have been put into effect to avoid injury and death. The sad thing is that if this were 50 or 100 years ago, these same Christians crying out in this person's defense would be the ones bringing lawsuits against these companies for failing to put proper safety regulations into effect. I 'sincerely' suggest you learn a little more about the sticker system and injury/death in the manufacturing workplace before you so cavalierly write it off as something so trite as you have done in your post.
Peter Watson 3 months ago

He needs to understand his theology better. The number is meaningless unless attached to a demonic energy. It is as superstitious as missing out the 13th floor in a building. Were I a lawyer for the company I would take the case and prove through the Bible that the man is totally wrong in allocating power to a number which is not remotely associated with the 666 of scripture. I write as an ex paranoid Christian who thought the bar code was evil. I am still a Christian but now have faith in ***'s complete work. The number 666 is the number of man. The threefold reflection of man as God - it is man as the author of the Law where God's Trinity (wisdom, knowledge and understanding) is replace by man's declaration of Divinity. Human rights, man as the author of morality instead of God. It is secular humanism, socialism and a Christless gospel of works. It is the substitution of the Ten Commandments for moral relativism. Wear the sticker and show some ***. And stop following false end times teachers. If they wanted to put a microchip in you however........................................... now that would be different.
- Tatiana Ceccatto 3 months ago
  
  Peter: it's a shame to see you fall just like ***....in the end, you will burn just like he will. Wake up and see that God will ALWAYS win. Just like Satan, you are twisting the words of the bible to confuse others and be intentionally deceitful. People: you cannot be a Christian and have faith in "Someone else's" works....you cannot serve two gods...find out who Jesus was and why he came here to earth. Here's a good link - do yourself a favor, open your mind, and READ IT! That way you can make your OWN decision. Peace :-)http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/
  - Patrick Carr 3 months ago
    
    Mythology designed to enslave the masses' minds
- La Gisse 3 months ago
  
  He doesn't need to understand his theology better - YOU do. HIS sincere religious belief, not YOUR understanding of a particular scripture, forbade him to wear that number. You can't invalidate another person's religious beliefs, nor can you "get a lawyer" to assert that another person's religious views are "wrong" according to your lawyer's subjective understanding of a particular religious text.With your same logic you could, by the same token, call a theologian to the stand to argue that Islam or Hinduism are "wrong" in their religious views (base don your understanding of the Bible) and therefore anyone asserting an Islamic of Hindu belief at work is invalidated. You are ridiculous.This lawsuit is about a person being fired for legally asserting his right to not be forced to do something at work that conflicts with his SINCERE religious belief, whatever that belief happens to be. You and your lawyer don't get to decide what he is allowed to believe, or whether his belief is "correct."He took the proper steps in advance to alert his supervisors. The accommodations they would have to make consisted of not making him write the number '666' on a sticker for a day - hardly unreasonable. The company screwed up, violated his rights, and will pay accordingly.
  - billy 7 days ago
    
    thanks for having my back.
Mike Miller 3 months ago

The company will lose this one in court. Certain accomodations should have been made for something this trivial. 665 plus one, or 665 and climbing or 667 tomorrow or anything of the sort could have been handed out. Instead this company took the "obey or get fired" route. This is such a trivial matter, I am surprised this company hasn't been sued before if this is any example.
- Stoner Friend 3 months ago
  
  I will be honest with you. I know there have been companies that have been in this position before. The whole reason this discussion was brought into place is due to the relevance of involving ethic's within a companies business practice's. With my corporation we run a strictly Agnostic practice as the proof is in how someone see's God with in themselves. Some would call me "slave driver" "penny pincher" "***" "tough boss" and plenty of other names it all break's down to business principle.What would you do with your company. I keep my organization very private and we have a workforce that does not get offended by religious joke's and joke's that poke at even the handicap. Why? because honestly. who like's going to work. I run the company and I do not even want to be working. It would be so much fun if we did not have to work.So I make it in my best interest to provide an enviroment to my employees that it's not work today. It's a fun day. Our company is a fun place to be and we involve much courteousness to each otheras sometime's there can be thing's said which could be found offensive. Which break's my work ethic's down to prayer. I involve prayer in my workplace. As my employee's feel comfortable praying together as a single cause above the force we have on earth.We know we are empowered to go further and do better.Regardless of how the work can become offensive and derogatory to one anotherthe end product result is peace.As long as we come to peace within ourselves and one another. Our workplace is kept happy.Which also remind's me that I created a product to symbolize our ethic's in our workplace as you can find here.http://www.cafepress.com/stonerfriend if anyone is interested in a custom design for my work please contact me at my e-mail which is available through stonerfriend.com
  - Stoner Friend 3 months ago
    
    or as a twitter message to @stoner_friends
shitte Heet 3 months ago

My 2 cents: The company don't care about their employees, the company don't care about safety. The boss only care if the employees are obeying order, doesn't matter if it make sense, or offending someone.Sue the company and stand up for the principle. So that next time the boss won't ask you to put your thumb in your *** while you work.
Carolina de Witte 3 months ago

I don't know where to leave this 'off topic' comment, so I'll just say it here. THANKS so much, Open Forum, for allowing us to sign in with our choice of social networks WITHOUT requiring that we allow third-party cookies. So MANY sites these days have that requirement. I would rather NOT have my say than to leave my computer open to any cookies these places desire to set. Plus, I usually have at least a half-dozen tabs open at once, so that would allow all the cookies from the other sites as well. I only wish ALL sites would follow such ethical business practices. I hope someone from the site will read this comment.
Carolina de Witte 3 months ago

I've never left a comment on this site before, so why is the word h a t e starred out? Really? I never realised that was a 'bad' word. Hmm.
Carolina de Witte 3 months ago

I haven't read the other comments yet, and given the anti-religious bias these days I can imagine what the majority are saying. However, I agree with the defendant, and I would not have worn that number either. How they could have fired him over this boggles my mind. OK, the 3-day suspension, while unfair, would have been tolerable, but I see NO legal grounds for firing him. Yes, I know that a business owner has a right to fire anyone without any real reason at all, but one would hope that most employers would excercise a bit more common sense. His religious convictions harmed NOBODY. He wasn't trying to 'convert' the entire company after all. He only wanted to do what was right for HIM. This is just sad. And, as I said, I wouldn't have worn that number for ANYONE. I know a lot of others who wouldn't either. Oh, and I'm NOT a 'radical fundie' Christian. In fact, those are the ones giving Christianity a bad name, and one of the reasons that stories like this bring out the worst in a lot of people. If some people defend their own Christian beliefs, they are automatically painted with the 'radical fundie' brush. Most of us aren't, you know. I think there will be a special section/circle in Hell for those who have caused the 'mainstream' to *** us ALL! Or, maybe they'll simply be bundled in with all of the OTHER hypocrites. I should NEVER have to defend my beliefs, although I guess that's 'part and parcel' of the whole. It's still sad.
- Patrick Carr 3 months ago
  
  the so-called "ant-religious bias" is people awakening and releasing themselves from religion's poisonous and hateful grasp!
David Flick 3 months ago

That's not religious discrimination at all. What it is, is that he caused a disruption and asked for special treatment because of his religion, which he had no right to do.And the Christians getting all bent out of shape should remember that the "666" is supposed to go on the hand, permanently, not on a sticker...he is obviously not wearing the sign of the devil, he's wearing a sticker from work. There is no religious violation.
- billy 7 days ago
  
  According to the scriptures we are not to bear those numbers. Another words place them on our bodies..
- Marash Palusevic 3 months ago
  
  You are saddening. He had no grounds to ask permission to NOT wear the Mark of the Beast? Your zero tolerance for other, or possibly ANY, religious beliefs, and acting as if this man is ridiculous, is and will remain your short-coming.I would never wear the Mark of the Beast no matter what the cause, if it were spray painted on a shirt, on the bottom of my shoe, or on a *** sticker for "safety". It hurts to see someone so ignorant to someone's religious beliefs and call "Christians bent out of shape". Yes, wearing that sticker WOULD have been wearing the sign of the devil. Period.
- Brian Roberts 3 months ago
  
  Good call David...so if Christmas rolled around and the company made you wear a sticker saying "Happy Birthday Jesus", I'm sure you would be fine with it. No wait...I know your argument...That's different because I'm not a Christian. Ok...what about "I love ***" for some breast cancer rally? No....the point is that the company had no right firing a man who had a valid reason for not wearing the sticker. The government requires companies to make accommodations for handicap people but this guy's got to wear a sticker that has nothing to do with his job, the performance of it, or explained at the time of hire. Come on man...this kind of attitude will only lead us down a road of no rights and freedoms. What amazing me is how liberals attack something like this but then scream foul for woman's rights. "Conform to my socialist views", but how dare you ask me to look at a cross on the side of the highway. Ok...point taken. We all want the same thing. Stay out of our lives government. Let me decide what I believe as long as it doesn't hurt others.
Patrick Bohler 3 months ago

Get over it.
Gwen Partin 3 months ago

No, I wouldn't, and I'm pretty sure no one else can do it and get away with it either.
Gwen Partin 3 months ago

Splendid idea!
Weird Dreams 3 months ago

in retrospect, perhaps he should have slipped and fell on day 665. problem solved.
- Gwen Partin 3 months ago
  
  That would have been awesome!
Nancy French 3 months ago

Look, cool down everyone. I've employed lots of people, and not wearing a tag, for one day is not a huge issue. Not going to stop being safe at the workplace, not going to impact efficiency or productivity or anything. I think this employer was wrong to choose to go to battle with an employee who, by all accounts, was a good one for 2 1/2 years.Jeepers, let's worry about something important...I would let him not wear it. Probably no one would have noticed if he had not gone to his employer before hand.
Nirak Retsof 3 months ago

Contrary to the tenor of some of the postings here, there is a biblical reference for this: "This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666." (Revelation 13:17)
- David Flick 3 months ago
  
  And? Who cares? Keep your religion on your own time or in church, where it belongs.
Nirak Retsof 3 months ago

If a Muslim were fired for refusing to wear a sticker that, under his Muslim belief system, marked him as being against Muhammed, it would be an international outrage. That is what a 666 sticker would mean to me, because 666 is the mark of the beast. This is not some obscure reference.
Min. B.R. Wiggins 3 months ago

I'm sure most of you people here that are complaining about Christians this and Christians that would sue everybody and they're mother if an organization made you wear something after being hired that went against your belief system whatever it may be. People kill me. They want to cram their worldview down Christian's throats but let a Christian try to force something on you. He has the ABSOLUTE right not to wear this number because of his religious practices. There are MANY religions, not just Christianity, that see significance in various numerical values. To fire a man for not wearing a number for one day....ONE DAY.....shows the integrity of this company. He will this case because companys are required to make accomodations for various religious practices. Ask any muslim that prays at certain times due to their religious customs. You people are only hating becasue this man is a Christian. But you would be crying out for his rights if he was a part of any other religion.
- billy 7 days ago
  
  thank you...
- Patrick Carr 3 months ago
  
  "People kill me. They want to cram their worldview down Christian's throats but let a Christian try to force something on you"***. Xianity has been forcing itself down people's throats for 2 millenium. Any resistance to it and people start screaming "persecution". You're right that people *** xianity and for good reason. It's a disgusting cult that teaches everyone who doesn't believe in it's deity "goes to hell". And many other things. Did you really think xianity gets a free pass for control forever?
- Greg Burke 3 months ago
  
  I really have to disagree with you on this. It sounds to me like people who are in favor of this guy think this that this sticker is an extraneous company pride or spirit program that this company is unnecessarily forcing on this poor Christian. As if the Manager is a homosexual and this is finally his chance to get back at the christians by telling this gentleman that his religious beliefs are ridiculous and so on and so forth. What you are failing to realize is that the sticker is an essential part of the job. Going 'accident free' in these manufacturing plants are of utmost importance. Maintaining steady production without incident is basically all these workplaces are about. Wearing the sticker is an integral part of the program. Its all about continuing the rhythm and flow of production without accidents. This guy accepted to work in an environment where communication with language is necessary and vital. I ask you this: If this guy was from the Ooga Booga religion and in that tradition the number 7 had significance and it was 'sacriledge' to wear a 7 anywhere, whether the day was 7, 17, 27, 37, 107 or whatever, would this guy be entitled to the same priviledge? I doubt it. No this guy is out for a paycheck. He wouldn't have the nerve to ask to be excused from wearing the sticker if it was a number that appeared more commonly. But he thinks that 666 will create a 'perfect storm' that will enable him to collect a big pay day by convincing a jury that the company was 'unreasonable' in not excusing him from continuing with the companies routine... in a situation that was entirely dependant on routine in the first place.
- Min. B.R. Wiggins 3 months ago
  
  I meant..."he will win this case"
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- Jerry Clark 3 months ago
  
  Whether his fear of wearing the number 666 was rational or not, that he was willing to take a penalty for not working on the day that the number was to come up shows that he at least knew he could have been a danger to his fellow workers because of the undue distraction wearing the number would have been to himself. The man expressed his concerns to the employer and the employer's unwillingness to work with him appears to be a lack of concern for the employee. Religiously based or not, a phobia is a phobia and Hyatt should not be penalized for it as it doesn't affect his ability to perform his job.
Joshua Carr 3 months ago

It's not about the sticker. I'd fire anyone who worked for me that expressed such illogical and non-sensical beliefs. Clearly the guy does not have the mental capacity for work.
- billy 7 days ago
  
  And this shows that you dont know me or my work ethics. and the Jobs which I held before working for this company.. the truth will come out and I have alot of proof (paper trail) which proves I did everything I could to allow them to excuse me from wearing that number
Greg Burke 3 months ago

This is like an african american saying that people are attributing the bubonic plague to the africans by calling it the Black Plague. I'm sorry but the word 'black' does not refer to africans just as the number 666 does not refer to the 'beast'. Mentally competent people understand that these are tools of communication that are used around the world to make our lives easier. The number 666 has no meaning aside from referring to six hundred and sixty six things... in this case days that the company has gone without an accident. The gentleman in this issue agreed to perform his duties and he was counted on to perform those duties. This is called an 'agreement'. Similar to the unspoken agreement that we all enter into when we commit to speaking the same language. If everyone adopted the same mentality as the gentleman in this story, the entire world would end up losing its collective mind in its attempt to rethink everything that we've come to agreement on.
Rick King 3 months ago

Greg Burke writes: "Seeing the stickers on a constant basis keeps workers alert and aware and it has no doubt prevented many accidents. This worker needs to learn that safety comes before his religious beliefs and if he is unable to abide by the safety policies in the hazardous environment that a manufacturing plant creates, then he is going to have to find some other type of work."Is the actual number of days accident free the main driver that is the reminder to workers to think about safety? How would it impact anyone's safety if his number simply read 665 two days in a row or he skipped "666" and wore 667 two days in a row? Or better yet "665 + 1" on the sticker?What sort of company would be so insensitive to an employee? Do you really believe that this one workers deep believe in the words in the Bible to be true and refusing to wear a sticker with "666" on it had any impact on factory safety? He was willing to wear the sticker with other numbers on it. If other workers saw 665 on his sticker on the 666th day would they lose focus on safety? I commend Mr. Hyatt for his willingness to take a 3 day suspension for something he felt deeply about. If Berry Plastics Corp does not move swiftly to put this behind them they could face more issues from other Christians refusing to purchase the end products of their customers which would be the most effective way to protest against such treatment as most consumers would not purchase items directly from Berry Plastics Corp.
- billy 7 days ago
  
  well I now have proof where they are lying to try and cover up their mistake.. Can't wait till it goes to court so the world will see everything that has been done.. Like I said I have my proof.
- Greg Burke 3 months ago
  
  Once again, this individual agreed to perform the work and he was counted on by the company to perform his duties. He knew when he accepted the job that it involved using numbers, letters and language. The random configuration of numbers and letters into something that could have a double meaning occurs thousands of times everyday all over the world. People who wish to keep their jobs don't make an issue of it. If this gentleman was 'unable' to distinguish between a set of numbers being used in a workplace and his religious beliefs then that should be construed as a mental or physical deficiency on his part. He should have called in sick, because in essence it is his sickness that is causing the issue. The numbers are not being used in any context aside from representing how many days the company has gone without an accident. It was this person's CHOICE to assign his own personal meaning to a number that probably appears around the world thousands of times every day in one way or another. If this company was planning on honoring Satan or recognizing the connection in any way whatsoever, then by all means this person would have a case. But his own personal choice to link his religious beliefs to a set of numbers in a workplace that utilizes numbers as a form of important communication leaves this gentleman very little to go on in a court of law.
- Greg Burke 3 months ago
  
  By making this into an issue, this employee has shown that he is not qualified to work in a demanding environment where saftey is a number one issue and is of primary concern. Numbers and letters are used in modern society and in this instance, the entire issue revolves around continuing steadily in an accident free environment. This employee's inability to distinguish context in everyday language and refrain from raising an issue states that he is not mentally competent to be working in such an environment. In my opinion he should be evaluated by a mental health professional. He definitely should not be working in an environment where his inability to understand and adhere to a strict safety regime could result in someone's death or serious injury. Simply raising an issue in the first place shows that he, like many of the posters here lack basic understanding as to why the stickers are used in the first place. Luckily the posters here are not in a position to put their fellow workers in danger; unfortunately, this worker was. This plant depends on a steady and rhythmic production and keeping things running smoothly. This gentleman would have been better off calling in sick on the '666' day, but, apparently he was more interested in displaying his poor judgement by trying to deliver a sermon to people who simply do not have the time to deal with people who cannot distinguish context in simple letters and numbers.
  - billy 7 days ago
    
    I understand safety.. I understand the importance of it aswell. So again what does me having to bear the number of the beast have to do with safety.. I'm sorry but I will never place that number on my body.I was told to come in and they would take care of it then. But my case will be heard and I have God on my side..
Greg Burke 3 months ago

Chuck Ellidge writes: "Wearing a sticker does not interfere with the company's ability to do business or the employee's ability to do his job"Curious Chuck what do you know about manufacturing plants or safety regulations? Based on your statement, I assume absolutely nothing. Just because you think this is a stupid thing that can be easily accomodated doesnt mean it is. Do you know the history of accidents in manufacturing plants? Chuck, there is a reason for the stickers. It is not some stupid thing that they came up with in HR while on a company picnic. Seeing the stickers on a constant basis keeps workers alert and aware and it has no doubt prevented many accidents. This worker needs to learn that safety comes before his religious beliefs and if he is unable to abide by the safety policies in the hazardous environment that a manufacturing plant creates, then he is going to have to find some other type of work.
- Wazir Nurani 3 months ago
  
  That's harsh, Greg. I might not personally have any respect for anyone's religious beliefs, but as citizens of a country where we have freedom of religion, we have to respect people's right to worship, to a reasonable degree. And there has been an untold number of precedents where people have been granted exclusions and exceptions based on their religious practices. Safety might come before religion, but the wearing of a number is not in and of itself a safety measure. Having an employee refrain from wearing that number on his shirt for one day (or maybe just replacing it with the previous number) hardly undermines the safety goals of a company. Frankly, I have to question the practice of forcing all employees to wear on their uniform a number that changes every day. Wouldn't simply posting the number prominently in the workplace be sufficient? Wearing it on one's uniform sounds to me as silly a practice as wearing ashes on one's forehead. As long as our number-obsessed society allows huge buildings to go up without 13th floors due to a blatantly superstitious yet communally accepted fear of the number, the court should rule in this gentleman's favor.
  - Greg Burke 3 months ago
    
    I'd suggest doing a little research on saftey and protocol at manufacturing plants. These stickers are worn so that people see over and over again the repercussions of going on 'auto-pilot'. People in plants do very repetitious work and there is a reason that the sticker that they see over and over again says how many days the plant has gone without an accident. They are constantly reminded that the number can go back to 1 if anyone fails to perform the necessary safety requirements. This gentleman's failure to put aside his religious belief shows that he is not suited to be working in an environment where lack of attention can mean someone's death or serious injury. The bottom line is that wearing the number is part of a vigorous regime designed to prevent accidents. And it does exactly that. It is not some company picnic or company pride routine that the posters are making it out to be.
Huevo Davo 3 months ago

My phone number has been xxx-666-xxxx since 1981. Religious wackos have left many voice mails over the years. I always wonder why me, and not the several thousand others on that phone exchange?
Tommy Sager 3 months ago

i work at a factory and when there is a fault on the product being scanned you have to put a number in manualy to use the manual hand scanner and depending on what product it is you have to put in a three digit code and the tech guys set it to 111 or 222 or 333 or 444 or 555. this guy and i were working the systen when the tech guy needed to add a new number to the list, the next number was 666 the guy i was working with said he would input that number if a fauld scan came thru that required 666. i thought it was odd he would say that, but the tech guy changed it to 777
- George Freeman 3 months ago
  
  Wow what if my religion seen 777 as some evil? Could I put on a show and try to slip in a quick sermon on my religious preferences. What if my Aryan based Nordic belief allows me to wear SS runes and other symbols assciated with the WWII ***. Respecting the history of the Vikings doesn't make you a nazi but today wearing the symbols makes one a nazi in societies eyes.I have worked in Steel mills where safety takes precedence over religious preferences. I also believe the work place is not a stave to advocate your religion as it is not beneficial to anyone or thing.Personally I feel offended by people who put their religious information or leave their symbols in a work place. While working in a small shop in the 70's I rode my Harley chopper to the shop and was fired because the owner was Chairman of the local John Birch Society. A big Goon foreman demanded I take off my Harley jacket and then tank top before entering the shop? I complied and got notice of termination anyway at lunch break. I never protested or made any stink about the incident as there was still a lot of racism going on against brown people in Napa County back then. Two years ago I stopped at gas station and the pump just quit working locking in numbers $6.66? I have a #13 tattoo and wear the number on my riding vest. I respect all religions as long as you don't try to push them on me as I won't push my Pomo Indian WEYA belief on you and expect the same respect... Live and Let Live...
  - George Freeman 3 months ago
    
    OOPS! sorry for typos-SHould be stage not stave...
Chris Hurley 3 months ago

Well sjdoug, it's not silly at all. What some like you call 'superstition' millions take seriously and have deep rooted beliefs that they are entitled to, and under the Constitution allowed to have and to express. His beliefs are protected, and he cannot be fired for those beliefs, even if that means not wearing a company mandated 'sticker' containing writing that goes against his beliefs. He will win this lawsuit, the company will look stupid, and it will cost them. Who knows, this fiasco may cost someone else their job, too, for doing something stupid that led to this lawsuit. Whether he wore the sticker or not, wearing it or not did not affect his job, it did not put any sort of burden on the company. In fact, he had asked days before to be allowed to forgo the sticker should the number reach '666' and was told not to worry, and as another poster said, the company is obligated to make a reasonable accommodation, which not wearing a 'sticker' for one day, more than reasonable. Those that mock and make fun of this gentleman who was fired for his religious beliefs, I am willing to say that if the company were making employees say a prayer before they started each shift, and someone objected because they don't believe in God or even prayer for that matter, and was told to pray or be fired, refused, and was fired, you would be screaming that that person's 'rights' were 'violated.' Well, same thing here....this gentleman's rights were violated. Period.
sjdoug 3 months ago

Silly that he would not wear it out of some superstition and even sillier that the company fired him for it.
Valorie Tschopp-Britton 3 months ago

I WOULD NOT WEAR THE 666 STICKER EITHER! IT IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL INTEGRITY TO THE WORD OF GOD! THE BIBLE! IT IS, AND HAS BEEN MY BELIEF MY ENTIRE LIFE! IT SEEMS THAT EVERY OTHER RELIGION IS BEING OBLIGED AND GIVEN SPECIAL RIGHTS TO PRACTICE THEIR BELIEFS...ASK A MUSLIM WOMAN TO UNCOVER HER FACE IN PUBLIC OR DENY THEM THE RIGHT TO PRAY AT DESIGNATED TIMES OF THE DAY, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS THEIR REGULAR PRACTICE! THIS COUNTRY HAS MADE IT MANDATORY TO ALLOW EVERY OTHER RELIGION TO BE RESPECTED EXCEPT CHRISTIANITY, THE ONE THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON!!! IF WE AS CHRISTIANS DON'T START STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHTS AND FIGHTING THIS ANIT-*** SPIRIT, WE WILL SOON END UP BEING MARTYRED FOR OUR FAITH (AND RIGHTS TO PRACTICE OUR BELIEFS, WHICH TO US MEANS, OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD! I HOPE THIS MAN WINS HIS CASE AND PEOPLE WILL TAKE NOTICE! I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR ANYONE THAT CONFESSES TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO START PRAYING FOR THIS NATION BEFORE IT IS TO LATE! REV.VALORIE BRITTON....
- billy 7 days ago
  
  Amen...
- Carolina de Witte 3 months ago
  
  I might agree with some of what you said, IF I could figure it out. 'Shouting' does no good at all. You are simply living up to other people's stereotype of a 'typical' Christian. Remember..."Speak softly, and carry a big stick". No, not scripture, but wise nonetheless.
Mark Gos 4 months ago

I'm curious if those attacking this man for not wanting to wear 666 would also attack a Jewish man for refusing a concert ticket from HIT-105.7The tickets are printed with HIT-The Level is E The Row is 1HIT-LER1Sometimes a little compassion won't kill a company.
Tim Buterbaugh 4 months ago

The suspension was for refusing a direct order from his boss. The firing was because they realized what a *** they had working for them, afraid that a sticker would condemn him to hell.
Chuck Elledge 4 months ago

The law allows reasonable accommodation for religious beliefs. Wearing a sticker does not interfere with the company's ability to do business or the employee's ability to do his job. It is not a matter of what your belief is, but whether the accommodation would be a burden to the business. This clearly is NOT a burden. Therefore the company loses, the manager is an idiot who would fail Management 101, and should be fired. He has exposed his company to liability and costs, that, even if they should win, were completely unnecessary and have a secondary cost of undermining employee relations. It does matter whether you, or the company believe his belief is ridiculous or not, that is immaterial. The legal question is not who is right, or whose belief is correct, but whether said belief, and the accommodation requested places an unreasonable burden on the company. If he explained his position beforehand and requested accommodation on that particular day the company should have allowed any employee feeling as he did to skip wearing the sticker for that one day. Such would not have interfered in any way with the ability of the company to operate, and therefore, was entirely within his right by law.
- Greg Burke 3 months ago
  
  "Wearing a sticker does not interfere with the company's ability to do business or the employee's ability to do his job"Curious Chuck what do you know about manufacturing plants or safety regulations? Based on your statement, I assume absolutely nothing. Just because you think this is a stupid thing that can be easily accomodated doesnt mean it is. Do you know the history of accidents in manufacturing plants? Chuck, there is a reason for the stickers. It is not some stupid thing that they came up with in HR while on a company picnic. Seeing the stickers on a constant basis keeps workers alert and aware and it has no doubt prevented many accidents. This worker needs to learn that safety comes before his religious beliefs and if he is unable to abide by the safety policies in the hazardous environment that a manufacturing plant creates, then he is going to have to find some other type of work.
  - April Barnabi 3 months ago
    
    I mean seriously Greg did you make up the policy about wearing stickers. I realize how important safety is in manufacturing but this man could very easily have been accommodated by wearing the previous days number. Just because you do not believe in something does not make it reality. You believe in safety stickers and he believes the number 666 is evil, you are both passionate about it and you both have references to back you up....what is a person to decide? I personally wouldn't want to wear it on my shirt all day either and fortunately we have a constitution that says you can't make me:)
- Chuck Elledge 4 months ago
  
  2nd paragraph should read "does NOT matter"
Wayne Wastier 4 months ago

No. I would fire anyone that would try and make an employee wear such a demonic sticker.
Doc Musgrove 4 months ago

So if you wear an American Flag sticker, crucifix, or Star of David do you get fired also?
Jn Brown 4 months ago

another bully manager gonna break that monkey or else
Jn Brown 4 months ago

another bully manager gonna bend that monkey to his will or others may question his authority on some other issue.
Richard Owens 3 months ago

There is no shortage of craziness on both sides, here. It's nuts that a company would place such a high priority on such a trivial thing, like wearing a sticker declaring how long they had been accident free - and, it's nuts that someone would allow primitive, superstitious, anonymous dead men from thousands of years ago to frighten him about a number. I can do nothing but laugh at them both.
Lynn Norton 3 months ago

I would have called out sick that day, and used the "sick" day to do something to benefit a church organization.
- Jn Brown 4 months ago
  
  whazat? a christian lying? never happen
- Rico Allen 3 months ago
  
  Not a bad suggestion, but they may have still fired him knowing why he really called in. Then his lawsuit wouldn’t be as strong. i think he did the best thing. This is a very strong case in my opinion. It’s really elementary for the company to behave in this manor about wearing a number. The boss should be fired immediately. The company could get a leg up if they fired the boss and offered this guy his job back. If not they will be paying big. To others ranting about religion doesn’t belong in the work place. You forget this is America. The president’s religion was the number one item scrutinized. The majority of the country wants you to be a "good Christian". So now this guy practicing Christian beliefs is wrong? Make up your mind!!!
Lynn Norton 3 months ago

People's religious and cultural viewpoints should be respected. Not wearing a 666 sticker in no way kept this person from doing his assigned job. I hope he wins this lawsuit. Personally, 666 makes me a bit uncomfortable and I probably would decline to wear that number on my person.
Alicia Carruth 3 months ago

I'm not religious and this is terrible that he was fired for not wearing a sticker. He should have been able to skip one day of wearing it. Seriously? Fired for not wearing a sticker? Come on you guys.
Jess Roaden 4 months ago

Sounds like something only an idiot would do at a time when keeping your job is so important. He should have grown up and put on the *** sticker. I mean what happens if one of the digital read outs on whatever machines they're using happen to show 666? Would he refuse to pull the lever/push the button? Religious beliefs don't belong in the workplace plain and simple. If I sincerely believed I was a god and that my religion of me says I get sundays off or I deserve 5 minutes extra break time I would be laughed at as a crazy person and removed from the building. I don't really see the difference in that and saying I believe in an invisible man in the sky who hates the number 666 (and any math problems that might have that number as an answer) so I deserve to not do what everyone else is doing.
- Hans Hettinga 4 months ago
  
  Really!?!? It's a sticker.... They fired him over a sticker! How can you not see how rediculous your argument is??? So he is supposed to see it as silly, but the company is alright in seeing it as something to be fired over? Your reason of logic is so flawed. Pretty much you are saying that the work place is the new religion! We must follow everything the big boss man says in the office above, but hey our creator, well, I guess that's just rediculous....
  - Hans Hettinga 4 months ago
    
    By the way, I'm not condoning what he did or saying it was right, but good grief, you pretty much just said, if we all jump off the cliff, you better too. You have to, for logical arguements sake, look at the other side of the story. Work can tell you everything you need to do in life, but God can't?
Pjay (Patti) Pender 4 months ago

ALL religious beliefs are ridiculous! That's pretty normal for a belief in the supernatural! If I had my way, NO religious beliefs would need to be honored in the workplace, but if any at all are EVER honored, then all of them MUST be! Which is a really good reason not to honor any at all.
- Hans Hettinga 4 months ago
  
  wow, that statement is about as discrimate as any religious person could ever get! Sounds like you got yourself your own religion. We'll just call it "Your way" religion. Pretty sure the *** in that statement proves that what is always viewed as bad in religion is pretty much just bad in humankind all together, we just like to put it under some kind of heading...
Maha Sae 4 months ago

he shouldve written 665+1 or they should have just let him be!!! he doesnt HAVE to wear the darned sticker.... :S
Shimmy Atlas 6 months ago

As a religious Jew, anyone who is fired for sticking to their beliefs is religious discrimination, especially when not wearing the sticker is not anything that will prevent him from doing his job properly. He should not have had to take a day off or be suspended for 3 days.
- Pjay (Patti) Pender 4 months ago
  
  Where do you draw that line? Do you honor all religious beliefs in the workplace? Just the judeo-christian ones? (You seem to be claiming for at least christians--the man in the article--and jews--yourself.) Do we extend that to Islam as an abrahamic faith? How about hindus and buddhists? What about pastafarians? Austria has recognized the right of members of the church of the flying spaghetti monster to wear strainers as headgear for official driver's license pictures, even though headgear and hats are only allowed when religious beliefs dictate. I'll bet you see the pastafarian belief that one must wear a strainer on one's head as ridiculous yet your own faith mandates headwear as well. Please understand that many of us find your beliefs crazy. Unless you are prepared to have employers be forced to allow each and every religious belief in the workplace then there is no reason an employer should need to honor your beliefs. If it's really that important to you, you'll find a job where you are allowed to practice those beliefs at work, not expect an employer to share your beliefs.
- Rod Paulson 4 months ago
  
  anyone that believes the "666" stuff is just to plain slow to do their job properly......let's move on now.
Ted Miller 6 months ago

Whatever happened to calling in sick for one day?
Helen Thomas 6 months ago

Would they be as demanding of a muslim or hindu who refused to do something because it was against their belief system? Probably not. This man's ability to properly do his job is not affected by whether or not he wears a sticker.Shame on the employer....
Iam Skycake 6 months ago

I'll bet you he works on the Sabbath if they are paying overtime without any problem.
Nick Sanders 6 months ago

Oh, and thank you, American Express, for helping make my point by censoring the name of Je5u5 in my previous post.
- Rod Paulson 4 months ago
  
  you are welcome. Now go back to sleep.............
Nick Sanders 6 months ago

@Lawrence Behar, it's easy for you to say Christians annoy you with "claims" of persecution. Obviously you're not well enough informed or are simply too afraid to take a position on the existence and significance of God, which is convenient for you...for now. But for those of us who aren't afraid - be they Christian, some other theistic group, or atheist - as long as we deal with persecution, we will make it known. And since Christians face the reality of losing our lives for our faith - and many DO lose their lives, and have for centuries - I believe we've earned the right to be vocal about how we suffer. If you were told to make a decision for or against God's existence or lose your job, you'd complain, too. So, again, how great for you to sit comfortably on the sideline and throw stones. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. For that reason, I wouldn't wear the bracelet/sticker/whatever - not because I feared condemnation for it, but because of what an uninformed onlooker might take it to mean. And I would decline it happily, even at the cost of my job. Why? Because *** gave up so much more than just a job for me.
- Pjay (Patti) Pender 4 months ago
  
  LOL. You're funny. Christians in America most assuredly don't face dying for their religion and you know it! Christians in America feel that unless they are given special privileges they are being "persecuted."And BTW, that is what you should do if you really believe. Lose your job. That's not persecution, that's living your beliefs.
Joe Miller 6 months ago

Hyatt's boss is a moron. Somthing that should have been a very *** accomodation will now be the basis of a major lawsuit. It's too bad that someone in higher management at this company didn't put a stop to this silliness and tell this "boss" to back off. Unfortunately, this company will now write a big check and the only folks that ever make out in cases like this are the lawyers!
- Pjay (Patti) Pender 4 months ago
  
  Perhaps the "boss" feels as strongly that the rest of us that we shouldn't have to put up with every silly belief, and that the court case (which is not the slam-dunk you think it is) will make clear that christians in America have way too may special privileges already.
- Jeremy Scott 6 months ago
  
  Absolutely right.
Lawrence Behar 6 months ago

I'm an agnostic and I'm sick of hearing Christians claim they're persecuted. A few imbeciles like Joe (the boss) perpetuate this and they seriously need to stop. Also, does Joe realize that he's entitling the very person he looks down on to an easy cash settlement, which Hyatt completely deserves. Don't you wish you were lucky enough to have your rights trampled in such a painfully obvious and textbook way?
- Brett 6 months ago
  
  so your going to hell and want to take as many with you as possible?
  - Rod Paulson 4 months ago
    
    keep believing..............low IQ alert.