Religious Handouts at work by Employer

[lantiis]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas

Someone has been placing religious handouts at the timeclock at work. I see them every week (for the last month and a half) and throw them away. Today, from my department supervisor when I made a formal complaint about it, I learned it was my employer (we are not a religious establishment - we are a casino and racetrack) who was putting them there. I was forced to go and dig them out of the garbage, put them back, and my complaint was dismissed (not even filed - thrown away). I was ordered to not touch them and that if they were that offensive to me, to just not look at them anymore.

I can't not look at them. They are at a location that is mandatory for me to visit twice daily so I can get paid.

What can I do? Can they do that? And can they force me to have see them twice a day and not allow me to throw away the offensive material because it is employer issued?


NEW
I didn't ask, but I think my supervisor was wrong. The offensive materials have been removed. They were gone when I clocked back in after lunch and a new set there with completely different quotes talking this time about love and salvation. So that is good news! Thanks to everyone who genuinely tried to help answer my question - I really appreciate it.

 

[TheGeekess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas

Someone has been placing religious handouts at the timeclock at work. I see them every week (for the last month and a half) and throw them away. Today, from my department supervisor when I made a formal complaint about it, I learned it was my employer (we are not a religious establishment - we are a casino and racetrack) who was putting them there. I was forced to go and dig them out of the garbage, put them back, and my complaint was dismissed (not even filed - thrown away). I was ordered to not touch them and that if they were that offensive to me, to just not look at them anymore.

I can't not look at them. They are at a location that is mandatory for me to visit twice daily so I can get paid.

What can I do? Can they do that? And can they force me to have see them twice a day and not allow me to throw away the offensive material because it is employer issued?

Are you afraid you're going to catch religion from these pamphlets?

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas

Someone has been placing religious handouts at the timeclock at work. I see them every week (for the last month and a half) and throw them away. Today, from my department supervisor when I made a formal complaint about it, I learned it was my employer (we are not a religious establishment - we are a casino and racetrack) who was putting them there. I was forced to go and dig them out of the garbage, put them back, and my complaint was dismissed (not even filed - thrown away). I was ordered to not touch them and that if they were that offensive to me, to just not look at them anymore.

I can't not look at them. They are at a location that is mandatory for me to visit twice daily so I can get paid.

What can I do? Can they do that? And can they force me to have see them twice a day and not allow me to throw away the offensive material because it is employer issued?

You are not working for the government. You are not having your constitutional rights infringed. You cannot throw away material that YOU deem offensive regardless of who put it there. You could be fired.

 

[cbg]

Okay, you're being forced to see them.

Are you being forced to read them? Are you suffering any adverse consequences by your failure to appreciate them? Did you get fired, demoted, refused a promotion, had your wages reduced, because of your reaction to these handouts?

No?

Then you got nothing. The law promises you freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

 

[lantiis]

Are you afraid you're going to catch religion from these pamphlets?

Thanks for replying in a fairly rude manner. Unnecessary.

I am asking a question here to see if there is a problem - if there isn't, simply say they are not at fault. No big deal.

And they are offensive to me, and I don't feel like I should be treated like crap for bringing a problem I have at work to my supervisor when we have an open door policy specifically for employees to bring issues to their supervisors for.

 

[lantiis]

You are not working for the government. You are not having your constitutional rights infringed. You cannot throw away material that YOU deem offensive regardless of who put it there. You could be fired.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[lantiis]

Okay, you're being forced to see them.

Are you being forced to read them? Are you suffering any adverse consequences by your failure to appreciate them? Did you get fired, demoted, refused a promotion, had your wages reduced, because of your reaction to these handouts?

No?

Then you got nothing. The law promises you freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

Thank you for the clarification. No, I am not being forced to read them, just see them and often have to move then just to be able to clock in. But no, not forced to read them. But I did get a warning for my reaction to the handouts and was forced to go dumpster diving to retrieve them despite them being clearly typed and able to be re-printed.

 

[Silverplum]

Thank you for the clarification. No, I am not being forced to read them, just see them and often have to move then just to be able to clock in. But no, not forced to read them. But I did get a warning for my reaction to the handouts and was forced to go dumpster diving to retrieve them despite them being clearly typed and able to be re-printed.

Printing isn't free.

Don't involve yourself by throwing away another's property, and you won't ever be "forced to go dumpster diving."

 

[cbg]

You got a warning for throwing out someone else's property. That's allowed by law.

 

[TheGeekess]

Thanks for replying in a fairly rude manner. Unnecessary.

I am asking a question here to see if there is a problem - if there isn't, simply say they are not at fault. No big deal.

And they are offensive to me, and I don't feel like I should be treated like crap for bringing a problem I have at work to my supervisor when we have an open door policy specifically for employees to bring issues to their supervisors for.

No ruder than you throwing away (and "treated like crap") what someone else feels is important.

It's a question I ask every time some rabid anti-religion/atheists starts hollering about someone else expressing their religion. It's about being respectful of others' beliefs, but obviously, you think yours should be respected, but not anyone else's.

 

[lantiis]

Printing isn't free.

Don't involve yourself by throwing away another's property, and you won't ever be "forced to go dumpster diving."

Did not think of that. Noted and thank you.

 

[Silverplum]

Oh, if only I could throw away all of the things in our society that "offend" me. Then I could spread out all over the world, destroying all that "offends" me.

Waitasec...ISIS has that covered.

 

[Silverplum]

Did not think of that. Noted and thank you.

Thanks for considering it, and thanks for the thanks.

 

[lantiis]

No ruder than you throwing away (and "treated like crap") what someone else feels is important.

It's a question I ask every time some rabid anti-religion/atheists starts hollering about someone else expressing their religion. It's about being respectful of others' beliefs, but obviously, you think yours should be respected, but not anyone else's.

Thank you for your kind remarks again. I am an ordained minister and the paraphernalia is offensive. Please do not mistake me for an atheist or anti-religious person. Perhaps you should start figuring out WHO you are talking to before insulting them. Regardless of WHAT religion it was on, it IS OFFENSIVE. I am respectful and have never said anything about any other religious material I have found there, no matter what religion it was on. I never batted an eye when I wasn't allowed to put up a paper on my own church. However, what was there this last month and a half is bloody, gory, disgusting and offensive.

For the record, the paraphernalia they have posted is Christian (at the very least they are citing Bible verses in it anyway). I am a Christian minister.

 

[lantiis]

Oh, if only I could throw away all of the things in our society that "offend" me. Then I could spread out all over the world, destroying all that "offends" me.

Waitasec...ISIS has that covered.

It's too bad the Crusades are over too, right? I bet they would get some fierce volunteers!