Posted on 06/17/2006 5:17:58 PM PDT by narses
AP) The owners of a roller skating rink have fired an 18-year-old woman they called one of their "Top 10" employees because she moved in with her boyfriend, violating a company ethics policy that prohibits "live-in relationships of an intimate nature."
"I loved my job and I didn't want to leave," Crystal Plotner told the Coeur d'Alene Press this week.
She said she was fired after casually telling her bosses, Skate Plaza owners Marvin and Pat Miller, that she planned to move in with her boyfriend in mid-May.
Before terminating her, Plotner said the Millers said she and her boyfriend should "check out their church." She declined.
"Even if I had gone to their church, I don't think it would have saved my job," said Plotner, who worked at Skate Plaza for three years and made $9.25 an hour. "They didn't want me to live with my boyfriend. They were pushing their religion on me and I was offended. I don't have the same religious beliefs as they do."
Pat Miller praised Plotner, saying that "In all the years that we've employed people, she was one of the Top 10. It was a sad day when she left because everybody loved her."
But Miller added, "We've had our (employee) handbook out for many years and it does say if you live in an immoral way with a member of the opposite sex or same sex, you will be terminated."
Miller said that in talking with Plotner, they were approaching the issue as employers, friends and Christians.
"Our advice is not to do this," Miller added. "It's fine and certainly her business that she did, but either we throw the handbook out or follow what's in it."
Pat Miller said they attempt to set a good example in the community because their business draws young people.
"If we owned a roofing company, it wouldn't have mattered," Pat Miller said. "We screen our music carefully. We have a 4-inch rule. We don't allow petting, necking or bad language. You have to decide, what kind of establishment do you want to be? We want parents to feel comfortable bringing their kids here."
She said it is the first time they have fired someone for living with a boyfriend or girlfriend, though they have rejected some applicants for that reason.
"When we first put it in we checked with our attorney, and he said we could do it as long as it's consistent."
Skate Plaza's moral and ethics policy also bans such behaviors as "public displays of promiscuous activities, homosexuality, intoxication, use of profanity, lewd behavior, use of illegal drugs, child abuse, spouse abuse, unlawful relationships, cross-dressing, stalking and nudity."
Leslie Goodard, director of Idaho's Human Rights Commission, said the policies don't appear to violate Idaho employment law.
"There is no statute that directly prohibits discrimination based on marital status, and sexual orientation is not protected," said Goodard.
But Jack Van Valkenburgh, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Boise, said Skate Plaza might be violating federal discrimination laws.
"It sounds to me as though they're pushing their religious view of what a proper living situation should be," he said.
For her part, Plotner said she's through with Skate Plaza.
"They're already judging me for how I live my life and it wouldn't be the same," she said.
Reminds me of an old analogy I read somewhere, concerning the whole 'out of sight, out of mind' tactic that the homosexuals try to use.
Basically, it went like so:
A sickly guy is in an elevator. He passes gas. Lots of it (moral relativism, destruction of American culture, abortion, homosexuality, what have you). Once he gets to his floor, he leaves.
Meanwhile, other people start using the elevator, and they start gagging on it (American citizens). However, it's confined to the elevator...that is, until the sickly guy starts passing gas on the outside (normalization of very abnormal things).
Eventually, the entire building is filled with gas (America after it's lost everything that makes it American)...and is then scheduled for demolition by a gigantic wrecking ball (a revolution, maybe?).
Just trying to keep illicit activities out of your work life isn't enough. Eventually, it WILL spill over, as it has before.
Or you could just follow the rules.
Wow, you mean actions have consequences? Employers have rights? Only a liberal thinks otherwise.
I'm sure that's true. Neither do Zeus, Bhudda or Zoroaster. However, the God of Abraham actually exists and does care.
actually this makes sense in states where "recreational sex partners" can claim health insurance benefits.
Not a double entendre. A woman can live with a girlfriend as a roommate. Doesn't mean they are lovers.
(Everyone who's in favor of this, are you ready to endorse being able to terminate someone if they don't go to the "correct" church?)
That's not an honest argument as she was not terminated for not going to the "correct" church, but for cohabiting with her boyfriend.
Uhmmm..I don't remember me saying anything about the millitary. Comparing employment at a skating rink to that of millitary service is flat out ludicrous to be gentle. This is truly one of the lousiest comparisons I've seen on this post and does nothing to bring clarity to the issue.
When you join the millitary, you cede your constitutional rights. You take an oath on top of that. Members of the US
Armed Forces are not subject to civil law. They are subject to the United States Millitary Code of Justice. So, do me a favor and don't waste my time with this drivel.
Um, I think CzarNicky was refering to the line about "blaming it all on Bush".
The only obligation the company has is to pay her for her hours worked, not to give her continuous employment.
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