TCUnation
social network for conservatives
Workplace Discrimination
I have a question for all you nice folks. I work for a non-profit church organization. We are, by all accounts, a business workplace. We have policies and all that jazz. During the election, I had a stuffed elephant (a small one) and a small McCain/Palin sign (about four inches across) on my desk. You had to come in my office to see it. I was getting some static, people stopped talking to me, they whispered outside my office. I told my supervisor about this and she said I should probably just take the stuff down. Of course, I have just as much right as anyone else to my opinions, but obviously not at work.
Coronation day was hell for me. There were TVs everywhere, people squealing and freaking on FaceBook. The Executive Director here sent a building wide email inviting everyone to find a TV and watch the historic day. I was horrified! Now, a week later, I walk in this morning and find an entire display case in our atrium devoted to Obama. Straighten me out if I'm wrong, but isn't this some kind of workplace discrimination? Do they have the right to force this stuff down my throat?! I'm becoming very upset about this. I want to like my job and my co-workers, but they're making it very hard.
Coronation day was hell for me. There were TVs everywhere, people squealing and freaking on FaceBook. The Executive Director here sent a building wide email inviting everyone to find a TV and watch the historic day. I was horrified! Now, a week later, I walk in this morning and find an entire display case in our atrium devoted to Obama. Straighten me out if I'm wrong, but isn't this some kind of workplace discrimination? Do they have the right to force this stuff down my throat?! I'm becoming very upset about this. I want to like my job and my co-workers, but they're making it very hard.
Tags: partisanship, politics, work
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by MMIKEYJ on -
Well, we have two possible things going on. 1. You can't hire people discriminating on political party affiliation.
and 2. Alot of nonprofits get a little sketchy over political things, because theyre not supposed to be partial to either party, etc. with their tax status, etc.
However, since they were putting TVs on for everybody to watch Obama and they have a display case devoted to him, Im assuming theyre not concerned about number 2. If it were *ME*... I would hang up a BIG BIG picture of Ronald Reagan in my office. And thats all I would do.
I try to be tolerant. In fact, I would welcome all political discussion about Obama and talk to them in a friendly nonconfrontational manner.. Right now everybodys all hopped up on the first black president, Bush is out, etc... but the issues havent really changed, and im sure over time we're going to see not too many changes by Obama's administration. Thats when all the talk youve conversed about will sink into them and the lightbulb may go off in their mind.
-
Permalink Reply by x_1013_x on -
Thanks! That idea about the Reagan poster is really great! I need to design me up one and plaster it on my wall. It will be fun! I can't wait for the backlash. And believe me, I'm not naturally someone who wishes to get in heated arguments. If they want to discuss politics with civility, I'll do it, but so far, I've not seen that civility from them. I'm going to hang in there and keep my head down. When this whole thing blows up in their face, I will hold my head high then.
MMIKEYJ said:Well, we have two possible things going on. 1. You can't hire people discriminating on political party affiliation.
and 2. Alot of nonprofits get a little sketchy over political things, because theyre not supposed to be partial to either party, etc. with their tax status, etc.
However, since they were putting TVs on for everybody to watch Obama and they have a display case devoted to him, Im assuming theyre not concerned about number 2. If it were *ME*... I would hang up a BIG BIG picture of Ronald Reagan in my office. And thats all I would do.
I try to be tolerant. In fact, I would welcome all political discussion about Obama and talk to them in a friendly nonconfrontational manner.. Right now everybodys all hopped up on the first black president, Bush is out, etc... but the issues havent really changed, and im sure over time we're going to see not too many changes by Obama's administration. Thats when all the talk youve conversed about will sink into them and the lightbulb may go off in their mind.
-
Permalink Reply by Shelley Reel on -
You still have your elephant? I'd get it out, but be willing to take the jibes about it. I agree with Mikey, a Reagan pix would be a nice touch. :-) But being non-profit, they could be in danger of losing their status if they start anything too big in the way of discrimination. And this is church backed...how nice...I work for a church too, luckily very conservative, but we don't discuss politics and neither should they. I think I might have a heart to heart with the ED (but I suppose he/she is a lib) if you are on good terms. If not, you know where you stand and it might be time to move on. But the economy has you there, thanks to the libs! they'll all find out soon enough! church orgs should know better. it's easy to lose status, especially if a suit would come up....
-
Permalink Reply by x_1013_x on
-
I never thought about that status thing, but you've got a point. If they tick someone off too bad, they might have a big problem. I just wish the country wasn't so ridiculously Kool-Aid drunk. I would try and go to a paper or something, but God knows that would be stupid now. No, Syndey, my elephant is at home. I took everything home. But I do think I'll do the Reagan poster thing. It would be comforting.
Shelley Reel said:You still have your elephant? I'd get it out, but be willing to take the jibes about it. I agree with Mikey, a Reagan pix would be a nice touch. :-) But being non-profit, they could be in danger of losing their status if they start anything too big in the way of discrimination. And this is church backed...how nice...I work for a church too, luckily very conservative, but we don't discuss politics and neither should they. I think I might have a heart to heart with the ED (but I suppose he/she is a lib) if you are on good terms. If not, you know where you stand and it might be time to move on. But the economy has you there, thanks to the libs! they'll all find out soon enough! church orgs should know better. it's easy to lose status, especially if a suit would come up....
-
Permalink Reply by mani on -
hey i would say keep your conservative goodies up. If you catch any flack for it and they tell you to take it down. You can ask them to take down the obama signs and then you will take yours down also.
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Cobb on -
I would put up a sign that says "REMEMBER,DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WAS A REPUBLICAN"
I understand your situation.I work for the fed government.We are not suppose to promote,but somehow Obama shirts were ok'd because it cas "cultural".I fought it though and they eventually had to stop wearing them.
-
Permalink Reply by x_1013_x on
-
Wow, good for you! I wish I could fight it, but I'm really afraid I'd lose my job. As for the MLK thing, I'd do it, but some of the biggest, loudest Obama supporters would really have me canned then.
Michael Cobb said:I fought it though and they eventually had to stop wearing them.
-
Permalink Reply by Chad Patterson on -
the sad thing is you said non-profit CHURCH organization. Have they not heard that they were wrong about Jesus because Obama is the messiah? Do they not know that he supports infanticide? Do they not know he belongs to a Black Liberation racist church? Do they not know that he's friends with terriorist? I think they must and yet they still choose to idolize him.
I would get on my hands and knees and pray because I can not see God moving in a place with leadership like this. Maybe you are meant to be the lone beacon of hope left there so others may see the Lords light shine through you, or maybe he will tell you you are not in the right place and position you elsewhere to better serve him. He will not close one door without opening another and vice versa.
That is just my beliefs and the way he has worked in my life. I would try this before I tried as a conservative, to sue a liberal church for discrimination. Especially in a liberal court.
-
Permalink Reply by Shelley Reel on
-
this is a shame that we're even having this discussion, isn't it? We'd better get used to reverse discrimination, both racial and political. As Larry King said, it's cool to be black. now, isn't that a nice thought? I thought we had the administration of unity! I wonder, would this thing have happened before BO? What has happened to this country that you can't be one party or another without recrimination? The R's were in power and I really don't know that I ever heard anyone tell a D that they couldn't speak! Well, for that matter who could even shut a lib up in the first place? If anyone will be complaining and moaning about discrimination, it's a lib, isn't it? They're the ones protesting, ie, the Bush protest at the Coronation, and they are in charge of the world! What in the world are they still angry about? Their man is in, they got what they want, yet that's still not good enough? And don't think churches are above this---working in churches for 35 years, I can tell you, they are some of the meanest, least tolerant folks around. And also some of the best, depends on the church. Hold your ground, take it slow and easy. Bring that elephant back! surely you can download a small photo of RR and put him on your desk. Take the high road, you're above all their childishness!
-
Permalink Reply by Matt Corcoran on -
The government can't make any laws restricting your speech but your employers can make any rules they want. If you feel like its a hostile environment though and are uncomfortable you might have something though. You will have to check your employers and state's policies. The problem you'll run into though is that the people who are supposed to be there to help you will most likely be left leaning in their politics as well so it could be hard to get anything done. The best thing might just be to buy your time. This infatuation will fade and if you stay away from politics at work you'll find that the people are pretty decent. While I don't believe in being silent when your beliefs are under attack, it is the world we live in. Good luck
© 2013 Created by Earl B.
