Question

Carole Smith, an Apostolic Christian, worked as sales associate at Nickels Department Store. One afternoon, during a break, Smith participated in a conversation about God, homosexuality, and same-sex marriages. The next day, an employee told the manager that Smith made inappropriate comments about gays to Casey, a Nickels employee who was gay. Over the next five weeks, Nickels investigated the incident by interviewing and obtaining statements from employees who were present during the conversation. In his statement, Casey reported that Smith pointed her finger and said that God does not accept gays, that gays should not be allowed to marry or have children, and that they will burn in hell. Three employees confirmed Smith’s statements. Nickels terminated Smith's employment after concluding she had engaged in serious harassment in violation of its Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy. This policy, of which Smith was aware, prohibits employees from engaging in conduct that could reasonably be interpreted as harassment based on an individual's status, including sexual orientation, and provides that employees who violate the policy will receive "coaching and/or other discipline, up to and including termination.” Nickels has "zero tolerance" for harassment "regardless of whether such conduct rises to the level of unlawful discrimination or harassment" and treats serious harassment as gross misconduct and grounds for immediate termination

Answer 1

I completely support the management's decision to terminate Carole Smith because she has actually preached a religion in an organization and may have also been involved in harassing Casey who is a homosexual by stating that God does not accept homo sexuality and hell is the only future for such individuals. In this case Carole Smith can be accused of discrimination of individuals based on sexual orientation and also practicing religion and influencing individuals with the same. Such attitude should not at all be entertained in the workplace because it is against the law as well as ethics and I would also have terminated Carole Smith because I have zero tolerance regarding harassment and using religion to affect individuals in the workplace.