Illinois salesman fired for wearing Packers tie

[illmusic]

(01-25-2011 07:39 PM)ChrisD Wrote:  That would be like saying you can get fired for wearing a wedding band, or engagement ring.

It's the same general standard as the tie. It's nothing different. It would be the same as someone being employed by McDonalds, but preferring Burger King. They can't fire someone because of their preference. If that's the case, they are discriminating against individuals who prefer Burger King over McDonalds. Or better yet, McDonalds has partnership with Coca-Cola, so an individual brings a bottle of pepsi to work with their lunch. They can't fire them on something like that.

You're not going to find a court case liek this, because it's never happened. Why? Because it's ridiculous. Regardless of business ties. It's a general standard set in the courts, there's nothing written saying you can or can't be fired for being a fan of a sports team, it will always come up as a discrimination case when brought to court. The state doesn't matter. That's what they will bring it to court with, and majority of the time, probably around 75% of the time, they will win over the business. (Especially if the individual can prove a reliable, and steady worker on the job.)


If you hired someone, and fired them abruptly after finding out they were a fan of another team and that was the reason you fired them, yes, you could get into trouble. It has nothing to do with affirmative action. It has to do with general standards of employment.

he wasn't fired because of his team allegiance, he was fired because he didn't take off a tie that his boss told him to take off. you can't twist the way he was fired, it's set in stone, and the guy even said he was told plenty of times to take the tie off. no where in the Wal-Mart does it read you can't wear jeans but different stores abide by different dress codes. most retail stores don't actually have it in the rule book that you need to tuck your shirt in, but some managers will make their employees tuck their shirts in and have grounds to fire you if you don't.

[Paulitik]

Legal issues aside, I think everyone can agree it's fucking stupid to try to sell Bears fans a car wearing a Packers tie. The guy was creating what could be construed a hostile environment, no matter how innocuous it seemed to him. If he was told to take it off, he should have. The only argument I could see him having, is if other salesman were wearing out of market team gear as well, but that still isn't much of one. People take their NFL seriously, especially Chicagoans. If I spent my Sunday burning my Jay Cutler jersey, the last thing I want to do Monday is see some douche wearing a Packers tie, that I'm trying to buy a car from.

I would have not liked to see anyone wear anything Packers the day after we lost to them, epecially on anyone providing a service or wanting me to buy something from them.

[The Falcon Jedi]

He was rightfully fired.

[TeamPlayer1]

Freedom of expression does not apply at work. If you are a car salesman and a customer inquired about one of your luxury cars on the floor and you truthfully replied that "If you are going to pay that kind of money you should buy a Lexus."

If your boss overheard, you are fired.