Four former employees are suing a Texas doctor, claiming he forced them to practice his religion in the workplace. Hemant Mehta at the Friendly Athiest reports:
“The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is filing the suit on the employees’ behalf against Dr. Tim Shepherd. The suit says Shepherd ‘held daily mandatory meetings which all employees were required to attend regardless of their own religious beliefs or affiliation, or lack thereof.’ That included attending Bible studies in the morning.
One employee was dismissed because she was a single mother; Shepherd allegedly told her that was ‘not what God wanted’ for her life. Another employee, a man who lived with his girlfriend, was told by Shepherd’s wife Virginia to attend pre-marital counseling. He was fired after saying no to that request.”
Employees should never be compelled to adhere to their employer’s religious beliefs. It is of the utmost importance that in a secular country, people have the right to work without sacrificing their freedom of, and from, religion.
