Inthemiddle
Rookie
- Oct 4, 2011
- 6,354
- 675
- 0
- Banned
- #1
Co-workers felt harassed to watch his DVDs
I'm curious how many people will read this, or just jump up and say something. Basically, a man uses his work time to discuss his religious beliefs. Co-workers become uncomfortable, he's told by his supervisors to refrain from such discussions. He continues anyway, and gets fired. Now he sues for wrongful termination.
What's so wrong with discussing religion? His job should be forced to either give him his job back, or pay out a few million or something. It's not like the job market is good and he can go find another job. People can't afford to be fired for their religious beliefs in times like this.
I'm curious how many people will read this, or just jump up and say something. Basically, a man uses his work time to discuss his religious beliefs. Co-workers become uncomfortable, he's told by his supervisors to refrain from such discussions. He continues anyway, and gets fired. Now he sues for wrongful termination.
What's so wrong with discussing religion? His job should be forced to either give him his job back, or pay out a few million or something. It's not like the job market is good and he can go find another job. People can't afford to be fired for their religious beliefs in times like this.
His suit also claims that supervisors wrongly admonished him for distributing DVD documentary films
In his role, Coppedge was responsible for making technical and scientific recommendations to management and developing presentations about various technical capabilities of new systems and upgrades, his attorney William Becker Jr. said during opening arguments
In March 2009, Coppedge claims that his supervisor advised him that co-workers had complained that he was harassing them over debates about his religious views and coercing them in the workplace into watching DVD programs....During his opening statements Tuesday, attorney Becker Jr. told a judge hearing the case that Coppedge's supervisor threatened him with termination if he "pushed his religion" and ordered Coppedge to refrain from discussing politics or religion with anyone in the office.
In their response to the civil suit, attorneys for JPL stated in court documents that one of Coppedge's co-workers complained to his supervisor that Coppedge made her feel so uncomfortable in discussing "non work related topics" that it bordered on harassment. The supervisor encouraged Coppedge to limit his discussions about topics like religion and politics to periods like lunch breaks, according to the response.
Coppedge was demoted after eight years as lead systems administrator and terminated last year. He cited those actions as a factor in basis for his suit claiming religious discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wrongful demotion.
JPL has denied Coppedge's termination complaint, contending he was among 246 employees laid off as part of a downsizing plan that affected 300 staffers.