Observance of Wiccan New Year Ends in Religious Discrimination Suit

Workforce Management ^ | October 23, 2009 | Jeremy Smerd

[EveningStar]

Last Halloween, Gina Uberti took vacation days to celebrate the Wiccan new year in Salem, Massachusetts, the town infamously known for the witch trials of 1692 that ended with the hanging of 14 women.

Less than a month after Uberti took part in the festivities of Samhain, one of the holiest days in the Wiccan calendar, she was fired from her job as a district sales manager for Bath & Body Works.

[Walrus]

These so-called “wiccans” need to move out of their fantasy world and back into reality.

[Walrus]

These so-called “wiccans” need to move out of their fantasy world and back into reality.

[IronKros]

I agree. They will be devoured just like everyone else when Cthulhu rises.

[EveningStar]

[angeliquemb9]

You know, whether you agree with someone’s religion or not, our constitution still guarantees freedom OF religion. She followed all proper procedures at her place of employment to take a vacation for a religious holiday for a religion she practices, and because of an ignorant boss who thinks that Wicca has anything whatsoever to do with “the devil” (it doesn’t, in case you also happen to believe such a thing), she is fired.

If we want people to allow freedom OF the practice of Christianity, then we have to allow that same freedom to practitioners of other faiths. Her vacation did not infringe on anyone’s rights, she wasn’t preaching her religion to others (proselytizing is also not part of Wicca), and simply requests the ability to practice her own faith.

[USAFJeeper]

Why settle for a lesser evil?

That being said, if they are hot, they can call themselves whatever they want.

[EveningStar]

I agree with you.

[liberty75]

Ia Cthulhu fhtagn! Summon the Deep Ones and organize a boycott posthaste!

[OpeEdMunkey]

My Little Cthulhu. Toys that make devouring souls fun!

[originalbuckeye]

When exactly did Wicca become a recognized religion? I know that Military may now have the Wicca symbol on their headstones but I am baffled as to why.

[OpeEdMunkey]

Is Wicca a recognized religion?

[RichInOC]

They threatened to turn the Joint Chiefs into newts.

[IronKros]

I have already been in contact with the Galveston Deep Ones and we are going to sign a petition. They gave me this nice trinket for my troubles.

[angeliquemb9]

Yes, as of 1972.

[bgill]

Since when did it become the boss’s business to dictate where you can go and what you can do on your vacation?

[EveningStar]

ping

[angeliquemb9]

Okay, I’ll clarify — 1972 it was federally recognized for tax purposes as a religion. The first court case that brought it into national recognition was in 1985. As there is no central authority for Wiccans, it’s been on a group by group basis of people with same/similar beliefs essentially set up by Gardener in the 1960s. (Not sure as I’ve only done an overview of the religion and not an indepth study.)

[originalbuckeye]

I suspect that the boss is in trouble. It isn't anybody’s business where someone goes on their vacation but this woman may have been disrupting the workplace with her speaking about her beliefs. I know I have been asked if a woman with whom I worked bothered me as she did tend to proselytize Christianity at work. It never mattered to me but perhaps some workplaces are less open to Wiccan discussions.

[Marie2]

I am not sure that Wiccan beliefs require that they take this time of year off.

You can’t just make something up and then demand accomodation for it. Otherwise we’d all be making up religions and expecting days off. I recall studying cases on this subject in civics class.