Home Depot Accused of Religious Discrimination

October 28, 2009

West Palm Beach, Florida - Retailer giant Home Depot is accused of committing religious discrimination after the company fired a cashier who refused to remove his button with the phrase “One nation under God”.

Trevor Keezer Tuesday said he is planning to sue the retailer with employment discrimination lawsuit for failing to accommodate his religious belief.

Under federal law, most private employers are prohibited to discriminate workers based on religion, gender, age, disability, color, national origin, and race.

In an interview, Keezer said he wore a button with the American flag with a phrase expressing his religious devotion since March 2008.

Earlier this month, Keezer said he started to bring a bible which he red during his lunch break when his supervisor told him to remove the button.

“I refused to remove my button and was immediately fired. I feel like I was being punished for loving my country and God”, he added.

In response to the alleged discrimination, Home Depot Spokesman Craig Fishel said the retailer did not commit any discriminatory act against Keezer “but only practiced its blanket policy which prohibits workers from expressing their personal beliefs.”

“We offered him [Keezer] the company-provided pins and badges which he can wear on his aprons but he declined”, Fishel said.