Lawsuit: Man fired for not wearing "666" sticker

(AP) 

ATLANTA - A Georgia factory worker claims in a federal lawsuit that he was fired after he refused to wear a 666 sticker he feared would doom him to eternal damnation.

Billy E. Hyatt claims he was fired from Pliant Corp., a plastics factory in northern Georgia near Dalton, after he refused to wear a sticker proclaiming that his factory had been accident-free for 666 days. That number is considered the "mark of the beast" in the Bible's Book of Revelation describing the apocalypse.

Hyatt, who said he's a devout Christian, had worked for the north Georgia plastics company since June 2007 and like other employees wore stickers each day that proclaimed how long the factory had gone without an accident.

But he grew nervous in early 2009 as the number of accident-free days crept into the 600s. As the company's safety calendar approached day 666, Hyatt said he approached a manager and explained that wearing it would force him "to accept the mark of the beast and to be condemned to hell." He said the manager assured him he wouldn't have to wear the number.

When the day came on March 12, 2009, Hyatt sought a manager to discuss his request. He said he was told that his beliefs were "ridiculous" and that he should wear the sticker or serve a three-day suspension.

Hyatt took the three-day suspension, and was fired at a human resources meeting several days later. He then filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and his attorney Stephen Mixon said the agency granted him the right to sue the company in August.

The lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages and back pay, said the company forced him into a terrible situation: Keep his job or "abandon his religious beliefs."

The company, now known as Berry Plastics Corp., did not return several calls and emails seeking comment. It has yet to respond to the complaint in court.

[JustSayin123]

It may have been 666 days without a work-related accident.... but it looks like their stupidity meter just expired. What did they THINK was going to happen when the fired him? And all for a 'sticker'? Maybe next time they should run the idea of firing someone over a sticker past their marketing department. This won't be good for business!

[samgose]

Not all people believe that God is going to destory this old world. We must understand that six (6) is the number of man. God created man on day six. Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number Six Hundred threescore and six.
For all those who take this number will die and go to a christless hell, and those who refuse to take the mark of the beast will be killed. No Christian will be on earth when this happens. During this time Christians will be standing at the judgment Seat of Christ for the deeds done in their body whether it be good or bad. For every unsaved person who does not excpet Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will face the Great White Throne Judgment of God. For every lost person this is the best that it will get for you, but for the Child of God the best is yet to come, in heaven forever will Jesus.

[NDSue]

Here's a question - If the number of the day had to do with something unfortunate that had happened in his life, like the death of a loved one, or a reminder of tragedy, and he had asked if he could be excused from wearing it that one day, would they have called him ridiculous? Would he have been suspended? Would he have been fired?

[Jim-in-NYC]

You mean, if the number had had something to do with reality and not fantasy? No, they probably wouldn't have called him ridiculous. But being afraid of a number because of an ancient superstition is about twenty shades of ridiculous.

[AlecWest]

Berry Plastics managers made a mistake in firing the guy. Even the suspension was a mistake. Everyone's an individual with their own religious and cultural limits and they must be respected. Example.

Before retiring, I worked for a Federal contractor. And because our work was out of the public eye, we were allowed to dress casually. One day, a coworker came in wearing a teeshirt depicting a Sumo wrestler. The front side depicted the wrestler from the front. The back side depicted the wrestler from the back. Nothing remotely "naughty" was showing. It was no different than what you'd see on a televised Sumo match.

A supervisor ordered him to go home and change his shirt because a woman found it "offensive." At first, he said "No." Then the supervisor ordered him to go home until he changed both his shirt and his attitude. He left.

The next day, he showed up wearing the same teeshirt. The supervisor approached him but, before he could say anything, a man next to the worker asked, "Are you the supervisor who ordered my client home yesterday?" The supervisor nodded. Then the man asked, "What's your name?" The supervisor asked why he wanted to know and the man said, "I'm this worker's attorney. And I wanted to know your name so I can spell it correctly in the lawsuit we're filing against the employer for cultural bias."

The worker appeared Caucasian. But, his mother was Japanese and he was raised in Japan (his father worked there). In Japan, Sumo is considered "holy" in its cultural significance.

By this time, the plant manager came out to see what the problem was. And, everyone went into the plant office. When they came out, the worker stayed. He got back pay for being ordered home, a punitive award to prevent the lawsuit, and his legal fees were paid by the employer. And, FWIW, the complainer was told to stifle herself since the lawsuit would name her as a corespondent if she didn't.

[Fatesrider]

The guy wasn't fired for being a Christian. He was fired for being a superstitious moron.

[CarrolU]

And Christianity is NOT a superstitious belief? Oh, I get it... perhaps the definition of superstition is everyone's belief/religion except yours, right?

[Jim-in-NYC]

What's the difference?

[NDSue]

Flyswatter - I had a good night's sleep, have had a great day, and thought I'd just check in to see what's happening on this thread. And what's happening? You've been posting non-stop! I'm thinking OCD, my friend! Get some fresh air!

[Truth_and_Justice]

Why didnt the idiot call in sick?? DUMB

[NDSue]

Because that wouldn't have been the TRUTH, "Truth_and_Justice". IRONIC

[Aquitaine77]

IF one of the managers said it wouldn't be a problem to not wear the number, as the article says, then he should NOT have been fired. Problem is he probably did not get it in writing! Would still sue the pants off them!

[master2fred]

guy is a complete wack job..... but he has a right to his beliefs and should be allowed to work, his beliefs should not be 'used' against him to be fired.

[NYCBrit]

The stickers are a wasteful rah-rah program some upper management type probably instituted after a motivational/team building seminar. It is inconceivable that one day without this sticker on could have in any way negatively effected this man's job performance. Even tho it infringed on Mr. Hyatt religious freedom he nonetheless took a 3 day suspension. Why fire him? And telling him his belief was "ridiculous"? Regardless what you think of this guy's personal interpretation of the Bible I'm sure no one here wants their spiritual beliefs dictated by their boss!

Berry Plastics Corp. is going to be VERY sorry they stomped all over Mr. Hyatt's religious beliefs, esp. since it was unnecessary. Management's authority was upheld with the suspension. Why wasn't this enough for them??

[chaosblessed]

I am so far from Christian it's almost funny, but the guy shouldn't have been fired. He seriously believes it goes against his faith, let it slide. This being a case precedent if he wins helps other folks stand against mandatory vaccinations and the ability to not fight b.s wars due to your faith's pacifism if you're of a pacifist religion. I for one don't like mandatory shots (too many cases in history of them turning out very badly, and they can and provably have doctored batches distributed to certain areas known for poverty). He works in a damn factory, everyone else should be aware that they haven't had an accident right? So why make them wear stickers pointing to that fact... My guess is they were power tripping or wanted him fired.

[tsprague52]

I'm pretty much an agnostic, and I don't think that he should have been fired if this was the only reason.