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.
Probably why employees should focus on their 401k’s and not on any company promise. I think that by law they own the 401k’s.
I’ve looked at them before.. I use ATM’s a lot and most locals don’t have huge networks or access to them. That is one of the things that kept me with wells fargo and then US Bank..
TCF is the only other large bank chain in our area. Time to start looking around again.
Oh man....Miss Gulch in The Wizard of Oz haunted most of my childhood nightmares. Along with the candy man character in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Whoever thought those two characters up knows a little about what scares children.
What’s that phrase on the money? oh yeah...I God we Trust... I would demand to see those who complained..
Unless one is a disease-ridden queer, you can fire anyone for any reason. Of course you are correct when assuming that the bank is infested with liars trying to protect their public image. I hope the wealthy of KY pull their money from this bank.
If someone has worked for a company for 24 years, that company has to have a pretty well documented reason to terminate them. Not only is this Bank going to lose a lot of customers over this stupid decision, they are likely going to lose a wrongful termination suit. If the reason she was fired was because she said something as innocuous as "have a Blessed day" and there is no written policy prohibiting anyone from using the word "blessed", then they are likely to lose big time, especially in the Bible Belt.
Arbitrary terminations are considered discriminatory personnel actions. Additionally, if she has been there for 24 years she is likely going to be able to tack on an age discrimination claim as well.
This was a really stupid decision on the part of some asshole pencil necked manager. If this decision results in negative publicity for the bank and customers pull their accounts, then the bank can and should fire the manager.
I doubt very seriously that the bank can document a single customer who filed a written complaint. Some atheist manager right out of some left wing University who hates Christians probably took it upon himself to be offended and made up the idea that some customers complained. The truth will come out in the inevitable lawsuit that is coming.
You have taken ownership, which is control, if businesses and ceded it the government. If you do no wan to employ Muslims, Democrats, liberals, homosexuals, communists, whatever that is your right. Rights are God given and are not something granted by the government. Learn that. If somebody does not want to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding, that is their right. It’s called freedom.
It seems that there is no fundamental difference between conservatives and leftists.
I would suggest to the fired teller, who is apparently a Christian, that she read her Bible and discover that there might be a cost for her faith. Had it with you whiny ass folks who want the government to strong arm anybody who gets in your way.
I really hope her lawsuit is successful. I am sick of atheists pushing Christians around.
“I think it is wonderful to hear the blessing.......UNTIL the person writing your paycheck says to stop. Once that happens, you stop. I really don’t have much sympathy for her.”
Right you are! But no matter how you may personally feel about the comment, your employer gets to “rent your behavior to be the way he wants it” in exchange for a paycheck. The bank was not asking her to renounce her beliefs. Seems stupid to me to loose a job held for 24 years over such a simple matter. I guess being overly “religious” in a workplace setting can get you into trouble. Sad, but true. Now I am waiting for the deluge of adverse comments claiming this woman is no different that the young mother in Sudan or some such nonsense.
I want to make it clear that if I lived in that town and had an account at said bank, I would close my account. If you had a business and one of your employees bent every customer’s ear with the glories of Obama, “protected speech”? Under your rules you would be stuck with that person.
Personally I am offended by everyone on the planet saying “ Have a nice day”,
It has become a trite throwaway phrase that has no meaning at all.
It must have served as a reminder of their sinful natures. A guilty conscience often cannot tolerate that.
“As pointed out, the bank is contrary to federal law when it discriminates on the basis of age, sex, RELIGION, etc.”
This has NOTHING to do with religious discrimination. The bank in question probably would not want you working there in public view in a Burka either.
I have never heard someone say it or even heard of it.
Some parts of the country are so dark even a glimmer of truth cannot penetrate. Your tagline is apropos. (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
They are “MY” rules they are just the rules, and WE are stuck with them or hadn’t you noticed?
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.
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I think she’ll have a hard time demonstrating discrimination on the basis of religion. If the facts in the story are as they are laid out, she was told to stop behavior x, and she did not stop behavior x. Sounds like she was let go (on the face of it) for insubordination.
In the retail world, as many of us know by having worked it, one customer complaint is all it takes to get the ball rolling.
Here in Maryland, you hear the expression quite frequesntly, but it is ‘have a bless day’. The ed is silent.
A MASS and complete withdrawal of all peoples personal funds in that bank should about do it.
I would promote that in a heart beat. Take a stand people, DO IT!!!!!
Its the law. And Liberals WILL enforce it on their own behalf. We can not just ignore that. We can either use it in our defense or fight to repeal the law, or both, but we can’t do nothing. Sometimes taking the highroad means conceding the fight.
No I haven't, government has usurped this control. I don't like it any better than you do, but it's a fact.
If you do no wan to employ Muslims, Democrats, liberals, homosexuals, communists, whatever that is your right. Rights are God given and are not something granted by the government.
In country with a government restrained by the constitution that would be true. In reality if I fired a Muslim, a Democrat/liberal, Homosexual, Communist/socialist/progressive, simply for being in one of these groups I would have my ass sued off. At the same time Christians can be fired simply for being Christian without recourse. Regardless if you agree with the law, the law should be applied equally.
If somebody does not want to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding, that is their right. It’s called freedom.
That is the way it should be, but in this little place called reality the baker got sued and lost requiring him to bake a homo cake.
Had it with you whiny ass folks who want the government to strong arm anybody who gets in your way.
Pull in your horns, recognizing the usurpations of government and making them play by their own rules is a far cry from supporting the usurpation. Just ignoring these laws like they aren't real doesn't help anything.
I agree. Not all that different than requiring the tellers to dress a certain way.
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