Thread: Woman gets fired for being an atheist while having breast cancer

None of the parties involved seem all that rational, but that chiropractor does sound like a grade-A douche bag. My guess is he was venting on her with no intention of actually firing her and some things got said that couldn't be taken back; I've seen it happen twice in restaurants, where it wasn't clear whether the person quit or was fired, but they definitely didn't work there anymore. Regardless, any situation that starts with yelling at someone recovering from major surgery to treat advanced cancer, it's not going to end well.

Assuming that her boss really did tell her she needed Jesus, how could she go about getting her job back? Wouldn't it become a case of 'he said she said'?

Originally Posted by CatBus

Assuming that her boss really did tell her she needed Jesus, how could she go about getting her job back? Wouldn't it become a case of 'he said she said'?

Would you really WANT that job back?

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-8...imination-pt-1

She isn't very bright for choosing to work at a job that was "Christ-oriented", (whatever that means), when she herself is not "Christ-oriented."

Further, she was not fired for "being an athiest while having breast cancer," she was fired for "being an atheist, and unfortunately her employer found that out during a time in her life when she has breast cancer."

Seems to me that he would have fired her with or without her cancer - because that's the kind of person this guy is.
If I work at a pizza place, and the owner only wants people who used to work at Starbucks to work there, he would not be wrong in firing me for not having that quality, no matter when he found that quality out.

Now, it was certainly un-called for for him to harass her like that while she was being fired, and I hope she breaks his shop windows (if you haven't read the article, he allegedly starts to basically jump down her thoart verbally during the firing process), or gets some form or compensation for it, but I don't think the employer was wrong inititally for firing her.

Originally Posted by Denver

She isn't very bright for choosing to work at a job that was "Christ-oriented", (whatever that means), when she herself is not "Christ-oriented."

Further, she was not fired for "being an athiest while having breast cancer," she was fired for "being an atheist, and unfortunately her employer found that out during a time in her life when she has breast cancer."

Seems to me that he would have fired her with or without her cancer - because that's the kind of person this guy is.
If I work at a pizza place, and the owner only wants people who used to work at Starbucks to work there, he would not be wrong in firing me for not having that quality, no matter when he found that quality out.

Now, it was certainly un-called for for him to harass her like that while she was being fired, and I hope she breaks his shop windows (if you haven't read the article, he allegedly starts to basically jump down her thoart verbally during the firing process), or gets some form or compensation for it, but I don't think the employer was wrong inititally for firing her.

Actually, earlier in the year, when she found out she was sick, she was ALSO threatened to be fired for having cancer as well as threatened to be fired for missing work due to her cancer and the numerous trips to the Doctor. It's a wide range of reasons as to why he was threatening to. But the reasoning behind the actual YOURE FIRED part was because she is an atheist.

It's never a good position to be in if your employer doesn't like your personality, or the work you do. Or a combination of both. When that happens it's just a matter of time before they find some excuse to terminate you.

If you know your not appreciated at your place of employment. It's wise to be searching for a place where you will be.

I agree though. It does sound like a pretty messed up situation. Spirituality isn't even supposed to be brought up in the work place at all.

I myself am a Christian.

People like this make me sad. This is America. We have a right to choose what we want to be. He has no right to fire her unless it was written in the contract. I mean Christians act like it is the only one religion to have for the country with "freedom of choice". This is where I draw the line and call people that share my faith, idiots.

Originally Posted by Wigglez

Actually, earlier in the year, when she found out she was sick, she was ALSO threatened to be fired for having cancer as well as threatened to be fired for missing work due to her cancer and the numerous trips to the Doctor. It's a wide range of reasons as to why he was threatening to.

Fair enough - this guy is certainly a heinous individual, with little moral fiber (despite claiming to be of a group that professes nothing but moral fiber.)

But the reasoning behind the actual YOURE FIRED part was because she is an atheist.

Agreed - whether or not she had cancer, this is the kind of guy who only wants to work with a certain kind of person, and she would have been fired one way or another. =/

Originally Posted by Caradon

It's never a good position to be in if your employer doesn't like your personality, or the work you do. Or a combination of both. When that happens it's just a matter of time before they find some excuse to terminate you.

If you know your not appreciated at your place of employment. It's wise to be searching for a place where you will be.

I agree though. It does sound like a pretty messed up situation. Spirituality isn't even supposed to be brought up in the work place at all.

I agree. But it isn't exactly easy to just up and quit and find another job. At least not in our area., now its even more difficult considering noone seems t want to hire someone who just started Chemo.

Originally Posted by Wigglez

I agree. But it isn't exactly easy to just up and quit and find another job. At least not in our area., now its even more difficult considering noone seems t want to hire someone who just started Chemo.

True, I understand that. I would never recommend just up and quiting. I'm just saying if someone is in a situation like that they should at least be on the look out for a better place to work. It's always good to find another job before quiting. Especially these days.

The Doctors Side



http://www.examiner.com/x-8948-Dalla...mination-story

After speaking with Amanda Donaldson (in part one) I decided the only fair thing to do would be to contact Dr. Scott Dawson of Eldorodo Chiropractic and get his side of the story. I wrote down his words during our conversation.

I called his place of business leaving a message with the woman who answered the phone including my name, title and number. In about five minutes he called back and I let him know I was hoping to talk with him about a former employee. He asked if it was Amanda and when I said, “yes” he immediately began to defend himself before I could ask a question or get another word in.

He started off saying “I didn’t fire her,” “she stormed out,” “it certainly was not about religion,” “they’re trying to hurt me,” “it’s all a fabrication,” rewording and repeating himself often until I could stop him and let him know I wasn’t calling to accuse him of anything or pick at him, I was calling to get his side of the story to try and find out where the truth lies.

When I asked him about Amanda’s performance he said, “She was good, but defensive when I would correct her work.” He stated that he thought this situation was a “simple misunderstanding” due to “poor communication.”

He claimed Amanda’s “attitude wasn’t good” and said, “her head’s not right.” When I asked him just what that meant he said, “Her mind wasn’t on her job.” When I asked him if he thought she might have been distracted due to her situation dealing with cancer he said, “I don’t know, maybe.”

When I asked Amanda if her situation distracted her at work she said, “No, my work was more intense and organized due to my situation, it helped me not to focus on the cancer, an escape kind of.”

He said that Amanda and her husband are just “bitter and angry” and stated that he thinks none of this would be happening if it weren’t for her husband’s influence. He claimed that he always knew Amanda to be a “woman of God” and that the idea she is an atheist was “new” to him. He said, “They were damaged before they met me,” because they had “hatred for the world.”

I asked Amanda if she humored the idea that she was a Christian while working there and she said, "No, I respected his belief but never humored the idea I was a Christian."

He further claimed, “Amanda prayed with me and the patients.” When I asked her about this she said that the only time something of this sort happened was when Dawson and the patients would pray over her and for her in regard to her cancer, but that she never actually participated other than allowing it to happen out of respect for his office.

Eventually Dr. Dawson mentioned not being happy with what Amanda’s husband was writing. When I asked him what he was referring to he said, “I found a blog 6-8 weeks ago. I wasn’t happy about the negativity in it and was afraid patients would be deterred. Amanda said she was keeping it ‘out of here’ but I didn’t want negative stuff associated with the office.”

He went on to make two other statements that are very important to Amanda’s story. He said, “It’s a Christ-oriented office, they (meaning employees) need to be on the same page I am.”

I asked if the orientation of the office meant he only treated certain people and he said, “No, I treat anyone, but I’m a person of faith, connected to God, and I’ll hire anyone who is qualified.” However, he then immediately added, “but I do not want to hire anyone with a different world view.”

Dr. Dawson often repeated that he wanted "it to all go away."

To be honest it was difficult for me to get a direct answer from Dr. Dawson and he stuttered often on his words. He went on to say he wishes Amanda the best and claimed he did everything he could to help her by holding her position while she was gone for surgery and providing a positive environment for her to work in.

My analysis is that his words matched up with Amanda’s story and his immediate exploding defensiveness says something about his claims. He couldn’t keep his story straight from one sentence to the next, yet the three times I’ve talked with Amanda via email and phone her story is always the exact same.
For part one, Amanda's side of this story, click here.
For more details visit saveamanda.com

Dr. Dawson's side of the story does not sound very convincing at all. I think Amanda was probably telling the truth in this situation.

Originally Posted by Rakjavik

Dr. Dawson's side of the story does not sound very convincing at all. I think Amanda was probably telling the truth in this situation.

I suspect I would not enjoy working with anyone involved in this story, but that's probably why I don't live in Texas.

Just another case of Christians forcing their beliefs on others. It's the same thing that happens with abortion laws. The world needs less religion, less hardheads and less ignorance.

I'm sorry but I can't just sit on the fence concerning this. Amanda was right. And the majority of Christians I know would behave just like the "doctor".

Originally Posted by Kromoh

Just another case of Christians forcing their beliefs on others. It's the same thing that happens with abortion laws. The world needs less religion, less hardheads and less ignorance.

I'm sorry but I can't just sit on the fence concerning this. Amanda was right. And the majority of Christians I know would behave just like the "doctor".

Wut do u know about our culture, cabana boy?

Originally Posted by Taosaur

Wut do u know about our culture, cabana boy?

????

CBS 11 interviewed us today. They only had time for a two minute segment but are waiting to see how things go with the Employment Commission who is going to do a full investigation into the claim that Amanda was fired for being an Atheist.


http://cbs11tv.com/religion/Atheist....2.1015271.html

To be fair, the majority of christians that *I* know are more open-minded and would be very disappointed with that doctor dude.