Home Depot Employee Fired for Wearing God Button
posted October 28, 2009 - 7:06pm 
A former employee for The Home Depot says he was fired for wearing a "One nation under God" button on his work apron. The company claims that expressing such personal beliefs in the work environment is not allowed."I've worn it for
over a year and I support my country and God," Trevor Keezor said Tuesday. "I was just doing what I think every American should do, just love my country."
Keezer has worked in the Okeechobee, Florida store for 19 months wearing The American flag button which says "One nation under God, indivisible." In all the time that he has worked for the home improvement company Keezer says none of his managers mentioned the button on his Home Depot apron, except one supervisor who he said commented that she liked it. Earlier this month, he began bringing a Bible to read during his lunch break and that's when he says The Home Depot management told him he would have to remove the button. Keezer refused to remove it and he was fired on October 23rd.
"It feels kind of like a punishment, like I was punished for just loving my country," Keezer said. A Home Depot spokesman said Keezer was fired because he was in violation of the company's dress code."This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs. The issue is not whether or not we agree with the message on the button," Craig Fishel said. "That's not our place to say, which is exactly why we have a blanket policy, which is long-standing and well-communicated to our associates, that only company-provided pins and badges can be worn on our aprons."Fishel said Keezer was offered a company-approved pin that said, "United We Stand," but he declined.
Keezer's lawyer, Kara Skorupa, said she planned to sue Home Depot."There are federal and state laws that protect against religious discrimination," Skorupa said. "It's not like he was out in the aisles preaching to people."
Keezer said he worked at the store to earn money for college, not to preach to the customers. He also wanted to show support for his 27-year-old brother, who is in the National Guard. Keezer says, "It never crossed my mind to take off the button because I'm standing for something that's bigger than I am. They kept telling me the severity of what you're doing and I just let God be in control and went with His plan." He says he was a model employee at Home Depot and he liked his job."I was cashier of the month and I've won six 'Homer' awards -- that's the highest award you can get at Home Depot."
Keezer has the support of his family and some of the local business owners. Jim McCoin, owner of Cowboy's Barbecue and Steak Co., said, "Amen. I am proud of him. If you can't stand for what you believe in, then why be there."
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Comments
Lawsuit
Although this country is lawsuit-happy, it's no small thing for a wage-earner to lose his job and for so petty a reason. But who was petty? Probably both parties. It would have been just as easy for Keezor to drop the God button as it would have been for Home Depot to turn a blind eye to it. Around every corner, there's seems to be someone trying to tell someone else how to live. Why don't we leave each other alone? No one should feel compelled to make a stand-- certainly not one that costs him his wages. It will be interesting to see what develops! Great reporting!
lawsuit
Keezor's lawyer has now said that they are planning on filing a lawsuit next week. I will follow the story and provide updates when they become available.
Two Sides of the Coin
When working for the man, you're owned-- lock, stock, and barrel... well nearly-- which is a shame because giving someone a paycheck shouldn't mean corporate control on microscopic levels, in other words, micromanagement. I see both sides of this coin. Both sides must do what he/they think best. After all, it's their co-creative world. Individual freedom is at an unfortunate new low in this country-- not just because of corporations but also because of the government. Where is Henry Thoreau when we need him?
Great article and topic!
So sad...
This was such a good report! Very sad situation here! - Cathy
Interesting
I guess that the money that we give Home Depot needs to go somewhere else, after all it has "In God We Trust" written on it. I think we need to be more tolerant of all people and unless the slogan is insulting to someone directly, let it stay on their uniform.
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Good for that man for
Good for that man for standing up for his beliefs! I'm not a Christian, I'm a Spiritualist, but I can honestly say that I do not like these narrow-minded atheistic tyrants trying to control everyone. They want to turn us all into gray blobs with no thoughts of our own! What's next, you can't hang wreaths during Christmas because it represents "religious" views? They hate religion because they fear it. They are control freaks who are afraid of people creating their own thoughts and following their own path. Let this man be an example. We won't stand for their tyranny.
First I had heard of it.
That's the first I had heard of it, but I'm not surprised. This U.S.A. is getting to be a sorry place to try to worship the Lord. The founding fathers never meant for the constitution to be taken advangage of in this way IMO. Maybe that man from Cowboy's wasn't it will give him a job and let him wear the button anytime that he wants to wear it.
Excellent reporting sir!
Johnny Yuma
Thank you for letting us know about this...
I did not know...
Great article.
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