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Gays and Straights in the Work Force: Tolerance for Other Viewpoints
The Rugherford Institute ^ | 8 December 2003 | John W. Whitehead

Posted on 01/27/2004 6:30:21 PM PST by Lorianne

In January 2001, Buonanno, an employee of AT&T, was handed a new AT&T Broadband Employee Handbook and asked to sign an “Acknowledgment of Receipt and Certificate of Understanding.” The certificate stated, in part, “I agree to follow the policies, rules and regulations contained in the handbook and to abide by any revisions made to them in the future.”

Upon reviewing the 84-page handbook, however, Buonanno — a Christian with biblically based beliefs regarding homosexuality — found several parts to which he could not in good conscience conform. On page 6, in the section titled “Diversity,” the handbook stated: “Each person at AT&T Broadband is charged with the responsibility to fully recognize, respect and value the differences among all of us.” On page 67, the company gave sexual orientation protected status.

For Buonanno, to acknowledge respect for a lifestyle that he believes to be sinful would be a compromise of his faith and a contradiction of the Bible’s views on homosexuality. So Buonanno notified his supervisor that — based on his religious beliefs — he could not sign the certificate of understanding. Buonanno added, however, that he had no problem declaring he would neither discriminate against nor harass people who were different from him, including homosexuals. He simply wanted to remain true to his faith and do his job.

AT&T’s response was typical of many politically correct establishments. The company gave Buonanno two choices: sign the certificate or be fired. Though his religious beliefs should have been accommodated in some fashion, his employment was terminated.

(Excerpt) Read more at rutherford.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: atandt; diversity; freespeech; rutherfordinstitute; workplace
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1 posted on 01/27/2004 6:30:22 PM PST by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne
“I agree to follow the policies, rules and regulations contained in the handbook and to abide by any revisions made to them in the future.”

----------------------

That such demands are made upon me are an imposition which is intolerable.

2 posted on 01/27/2004 6:33:25 PM PST by RLK
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To: Lorianne
Tolerance?? To wards Queers ------ I have none! They are an active part in the destruction of our society. You do not bargain with Satan!
3 posted on 01/27/2004 6:37:31 PM PST by Joee
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: RLK
The man's suggested solution to the problem (...agreeing not to discriminate or harass) seems reasonable. At&T's response was ridiculous. I wish I could cancel my wireless service to protest... but I'm locked In for a few more months! :-(
5 posted on 01/27/2004 6:39:34 PM PST by ScotchBible
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To: Lorianne
How many times need it be explained that the First Amendment applies to the government, not to private individuals and business enterprises?
6 posted on 01/27/2004 6:44:11 PM PST by steve-b
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To: Lorianne
"... respect and value the differences among all of us..."
- - -
thats just capital B and capital S

I hate lots of people and I feel good about it.
Some people just need to be hated, its a known fact.
But, then hey, all those broadband guys,
they can't even hate me for feeling this way,
they have to respect and value me,
because after all they signed an agreement.
7 posted on 01/27/2004 6:51:59 PM PST by DefCon
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To: Lorianne
In about 1976 I was promoted, and upon acceptance was told my first duty was to get rid of one employee--a flambouyant homosexual.

His work and attendance were inconsistent. Although not then, I might now recognize his behavior to perhaps indicate drug usage.

I told my superiors that I wished to fire him for performance, not homosexuality. His performance was sufficiently poor, to support his termination, and he agreed he should be fired.

The point I'm making is that it hasn't been "okay" to hassle people, for sexual orientation, for quite some time.

That particular company might be considered conservative, and yet there were some individuals in supervisory and management positions, which I believe were gay men.

There was some giggling about it, but the company apparently judged them on performance.
8 posted on 01/27/2004 6:52:31 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: Lorianne
Um ... good post. It demonstrates what conservatives need to learn about life.

“Each person at AT&T Broadband is charged with the responsibility to fully recognize, respect and value the differences among all of us.” On page 67, the company gave sexual orientation protected status.

No one was asked to approve of homosexuality, nor abandon beliefs about the sinfulness of homosexuality. Homosexuals, it appears, were bound to recognize, respect and value the differences they had with those who regarded homosexuality as sinful.

In other words ... in the context of the workplace, let us all treat each other as fellow human beings. The way Jesus might advocate.

9 posted on 01/27/2004 6:54:23 PM PST by Urbane_Guerilla
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To: Lorianne
Simple solution when presented with unreasonable NDA, Non-competes etc. Just scraw 'Don't Agree' on the signature line and hand it back to the HR drone.
They never check.
10 posted on 01/27/2004 6:55:53 PM PST by Dinsdale
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To: Lorianne
I would have just quit - I never understand how people could work for people who are so tyrranical.
11 posted on 01/27/2004 6:56:35 PM PST by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: Dinsdale
'Don't Agree' on the signature line and hand it back to the HR drone. They never check.

LOL...Yeah but what do I do with my United Way form? They always ask for a dollar amount along with a signature.

12 posted on 01/27/2004 7:01:14 PM PST by Drango (Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.)
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To: Dinsdale
Better yet - if there are specific portions with which you disagree but you're o.k. with the rest, draw a line through the offending portion, initial and date, and sign on the dotted line (keep a copy.)

Even if they check the signature line, they will NEVER check page by page!

13 posted on 01/27/2004 7:02:15 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . sed, ut scis, quis homines huiusmodi intellegere potest?. . .)
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To: Urbane_Guerilla
Each person at AT&T Broadband is charged with the responsibility to fully recognize, respect and value the differences among all of us.” On page 67, the company gave sexual orientation protected status

I recognize, respect and value dogshit because when I recognize it I respectfully don't step in it, and value the fact that I didn't.

14 posted on 01/27/2004 7:04:06 PM PST by greydog
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To: Lorianne
Kodak didn't respect Rolf Szabo's rights either.

And I'll do all in my power to never touch anything of Kodak's again.
15 posted on 01/27/2004 7:08:44 PM PST by JoJo Gunn (Help control the Leftist population - have them spayed or neutered. ©)
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To: Drango
Claim religious exemption from donating to United Way, if they ask.
Document any requests that request/demand you donate.
Sue their buts off for forced political donations.
You can "just say no".
The company socialist HRC specialist is not the CEO.
You might be pleasently surprised if you notify the CEO of your situation.
16 posted on 01/27/2004 7:17:28 PM PST by sarasmom (If I get a fake blue card, does that mean I wont have to pay for health and auto insurance?)
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To: steve-b
Notice, however, that ATT stock has nose-dived to the point where it reminds a person of the penny stocks of depression times; and though AT&T&A&T &c may be leaders in the political correctness market, they really suck in the stock market, perhaps because of squishy leadership and too many resources devoted to being pc.
17 posted on 01/27/2004 7:26:45 PM PST by mathurine
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To: Urbane_Guerilla
There is a big difference between tolerating homosexuality and being respectful of an individiual as a human being, and VALUING the differences.
18 posted on 01/27/2004 7:28:08 PM PST by mlmr (a kiss is just a kiss....as time goes by.......)
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To: Drango
Well, zero IS a dollar amount.
I go through it every year at work.
They send out the cards, I put down zero, sign it, and turn it in.
Even United Way says on their web site that they do not promote intimidation
to get employees to contribute.
One year I printed that out and hung it in a prominent
place in the breakroom.
I have alwo been known to print out news stories
about United Way corruption and bad practices
and leave them around for folks to educate themselves.
Now there are maybe 7 or 8 of 'us' that I know of
(out of about 500) that donate 'zero' dollar amount every year.
Ah, a grass roots movement.
Viva La Revolution !
19 posted on 01/27/2004 7:39:25 PM PST by DefCon
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To: steve-b
You're right of course. Employers can encroach on free expression all they want.
20 posted on 01/27/2004 7:39:35 PM PST by Lorianne
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