Alabama woman says she lost job for sporting Kerry sticker on car

Decatur Daily ^ | 9/12/2004 | Clyde L. Stancil

[GeorgiaFreeper]

MOULTON — Lynne Gobbell never imagined the cost of a John Kerry-John Edwards bumper sticker could run so high.

DAILY Photo by Clyde Stancil Lynne Gobbell said her boss fired her last week because of the Kerry-Edwards campaign sticker on the back of her car. Gobbell of Moulton didn't pay a cent for the sticker that she proudly displays on the rear windshield of her Chevrolet Lumina, but said it cost her job at a local factory after it angered her boss, Phil Gaddis.

Gaddis, a Decatur bankruptcy attorney, owns Enviromate, a cellulose insulation company in Moulton.

Gaddis did not return phone calls from THE DAILY about the alleged Thursday firing.

Gobbell said she consulted a lawyer, but then changed her mind about going to see him. She said she has cried about the incident and must do without income for three weeks while the state unemployment commission decides if she is eligible for compensation.

[WoodstockCat]

yeah it will get him from losing by 18 to losing by 17 on sympathy vote.

[DaBroasta]

The RAT cult is running a big scam here in the FL panhandle saying that Kerry supporters are having their yard signs stolen, cars with Kerry bumper stickers damaged, etc. They even have seminar letter writers from other parts of the country writing into local newspapers making these claims. Funny thing is the right-wing conspirators I know in this area want the RATs out of the closet and their having a yard sign or bumper sticker is akin to a flier notifying residents of a sexual predator in the neighborhood. This hoax is another dirty trick on the part of the DNC to stir the pot in FL. This bogus allegation in AL sounds like more of the same.

[RonF]

If what's in the story is true, then this is an outrage. It does sound as though she was fired; that seems to be what the manager told her. I would love to see what the follow-up is. If she files for unemployment, will the unemployment agency investigage what the cause of her firing was? If so, that might help get out the truth of this matter.

[Friend of thunder]

I don't believe it.

I don’t either. If it is true – if she really was fired exclusively for the bumper sticker, or her refusal to remove it – it does seem a bit petty of her boss.

[CWOJackson]

Creative excuses are always offered when a person is fired for cause. I don't doubt that she was fired for cause and is latching on to any excuse.

[GeorgiaFreeper]

If what's in the story is true, then this is an outrage.

Why would it be an outrage? AFIK no federal law would be violated.

When I worked at the Coca-Cola corporation in Atlanta we were informed that no Pepsi products would be tolerated at work and a single violation would cause your employment to be terminated. It happened to a co-worker who was stupid enough to order Pizza Hut delivered one night when we worked late. He did not know that Pepsi-co owned it. He was escorted out the next day. Thank goodness I was not hungry that night or I would have been fired as well.

[Not A Snowbird]

I don't believe it. There must be more to it than just that.

[It's me]

I agree but I think she wasn't
t fired for the sticker. There has to be more to the story.

She consulted a lawyer then changed her mind? Something's not right there. If it's true that she was fired over the sticker, I'm sure she can sue and get lots and lots of money then she wouldn't even have to work!

[jess35]

Why would it be an outrage? Do you think that guy runs a business for the benefit of employees?

I fully support the right of an employer to hire or fire whoever they want, whenever they want for whatever reason.

[Boazo]

[NavySEAL F-16]

Color me skeptical. I'm not buying it. Too convenient.

[Melinda in TN]

Probably got fired for being stupid. That's a bumper sticker, lady.

Well, after putting one on my bumper, spending hours trying to scrape it off and scratching the bumper up in the process, I have both of my Bush bumper stickers on my back glass too. Much easier to remove from there after it's all over.

[kcinnh]

I just got a job in the local middle school. Over the summer I got the district feeling that I needed to remove the three Bush stickers on my van. I kept the W 04 and removed the rest. Sorry to say, I need the job and I am surrounded by intolerant liberals, hmmm, I wonder what the problem with the schools could be?

[armymarinemom]

My guess is that the attorney found out that there were other factors involved with her dismissal. I doubt anyone gets fired for a bumper sticker.

[KStorm]

I believe anyone who has a Kerry sticker can be legally let go for "integrity" issues.
That 'phenomenon' is exactly what is going on where I work. The other day I saw a female employee [where I work] brandish a SKerry/Deadwards sticker on her car. This woman has very little integrity at the workplace--she screws around a lot, then when she is caught, starts crying and feigning a nervous breakdown, and she uses sick leave like oxygen - coincidentally just before her scheduled days off! Sorry...I just had to rant.

[deport]

Send him a big THANKS!!

---

What should I thank him for?

[GeorgiaFreeper]

For any one of us, ours could be the next voice to be silenced.

That is the price you have to be prepared to pay if you are stupid enough to back skerry during a time of crisis like we are going through.

An employer should be able to fire an employee based on any criteria. I am self employed and am working as a contract developer for a client. I know for a fact, if I expressed my political views, my contract would be terminated. I am a conservative working with a bunch of socialist wannabes. Its not "fair" as the libs like to cry, but sometimes life is tough and you just have to deal with it.

[worrywart]

Alabama is an at-will employment state.
Unless there is an employment contract made between the employer and the employee to the contrary, the employee works at the will of the employer.

In other words, as long as they don't violate any federal discrimination laws, an Alabama boss can fire an employee for any reason and does not have to have a "cause."

When I consulted my attorney when I was planning on letting one of my workers go because she was chronically late, he told me that since Alabama's an at-will state I didn't have to document anything or state a reason -- I could let her go for something as trivial as not liking the color of her dress on any given day.

ww

[goodnesswins]

Well.....SHEESH.....who wants a STOOPID employee working for them????? LOL.