Posted on 07/08/2014 3:58:25 AM PDT by xzins
A bank teller in Kentucky claims she was fired from her job for telling customers, "Have a blessed day."
Polly Neace wished customers at U.S. Bank in Walton, Kentucky, well with those words of blessing for more than two years.
She said she never had anyone complain about the saying, which she said she was inspired to adopt when someone said the phrase to her in 2009.
"I mean, in my opinion, I don't think there's any better way to have a blessed day," she explained in an interview with Fox News.
But Neace said she was told she could no longer say the phrase anymore and was later fired after working at the bank for 24 years.
Neace filed a lawsuit against her former employers saying she was discriminated against because of her religious beliefs.
But U.S. Bank disputes that claim.
The bank said that several customers had complained about Neace referencing the religious phrase.
It also claims that Neace asked a customer about taking the Lord's name in vain and proceeded to talk to that customer about salvation.
But Neace said that was an unrelated incident and that the customer didn't complain.
In a statement U.S. Bank said, "We hold our employees to high ethical standards when interacting with customers and co-workers...we believe that this lawsuit is without merit and the fact presented in future legal proceedings will justify our actions."
CBN News reached out to U.S. Bank for comment but our call was not returned at the time this article was published.
I am an atheist (well, a devout agnostic really, atheists have way too much certainty for my taste). My response to “have a blessed day” is invariably “And you.” I find the blessing charming and much more heartfelt than the insipid “have a nice day.”
Well, if the bank had told her not to use that phrase, she certainly should have expected to be fired. The bank was well within its rights to tell its employees what to say or not say. However, it's also in my rights as a consumer not to use that bank if I disagree with its restrictive policy.
For the record, I don't actually believe there were legitimate complaints. I think the bank is making that part up.
Any ethical discussion of rights includes the provision that there is no right to simply harm another person.
As pointed out, the bank is contrary to federal law when it discriminates on the basis of age, sex, RELIGION, etc.
So, there is no right to harm.
I find it rather disheartening that “conservatives” argue that the federal government has the right to tell businesses who they should employ. I think it’s time for all of us to throw in the towel and bow at the Obama altar. Did not say that corporations should be able to do whatever they want. No violence or coercion.
Forbidding “Honey” and “Ma'am” at southern restaurants?
Saying “Blessed Day” in rural Kentucky is no different than “Bless You” after a sneeze.
Especially for folks over 50.
It is to be taken as a sign of respect.
Me too.
I guess you've never been in the south then. It's quite common here. I say it all the time.
>>That’s the culture down there...<<
True enough, but there seems to be a big-city influence (Cincinnati) in the manager’s decision.
If this had taken place at a bank anywhere outside of a major city in this area, no one would have batted an eye.
Actually the federal government didn’t have anything to do with this. Someone at the bank where this woman was employed for 24 years fired her because someone allegedly complained she said “have a blessed day”. Unless she belongs to a union, the employer has the right to terminate her for whatever reason or for no reason. However, we know why she was terminated. Hopefully she will argue age discrimination and get a few million dollars.
And the federal government does tell businesses who to employ.
KAGAN: GOVERNMENT HAS RIGHT TO TELL EMPLOYERS WHO TO HIRE AND FIRE
http://www.infowars.com/kagan-government-has-right-to-tell-employers-who-to-hire-and-fire/
on my list of things to do now that I read this story..
Once pulled the bank of sealy (my bed) is not an option.
Any suggestions?
What’s next ... someone that sneezes sues someone for saying “Bless you.”?
I think her bigger mistake was reprimanding someone for aledgedly taking the Lords name in vain because they used profanity. A teller should not be making the customer feel shamed in the normal business days transaction.Like it or not, society has coarsened quite a bit.
It’s against the law to discriminate based on age, race, sex, religion, etc.
That’s a good law. Can it be abused? Sure. But this isn’t one of those times.
You left out.. ya’ll...
“ya’ll don’t come back to our bank ya hear?!”
Ugh! Take it from someone in the industry.
Only Bank of America has a worse reputation.
Walton Kentucky is a rural county village of about 3000 people. It’s very near Cincinnati, but it has all the characteristics one would expect in a bible belt rural village in Kentucky. Chiding someone for saying “God Damn” is not unheard of, and I’d expect an employee of 24 years to be nearly 50 years old. And, for all we know, she knew the person or their momma or grandpa.
However, I agree with you. That was more overtly religious than saying “have a blessed day”, which in my book is barely religious if at all.
Go with a local bank.
I’m wondering if she qualifies for a better retirement package if she finished one more year... she’s at 24 years+ now ,,, my brother in law was fired from Home Depot with 28 years of service on exaggerated claims... funny how it always happens right before anyone crosses the finish line..
The etymology of "Goodbye" shows that it's a contraction of "God be with ye". Can Christians no longer even say goodbye?
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