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Jobs, religion and money

By Staff | Mar 4, 2015

To the editor:

The newspapers are replete with stories of the lack of employment in this country. One major contributor, I think, has to be wages and benefits as they relate to the bottom line of business. These wages and benefits have been increased over time by successful negotiations of the union reps and company officials.

However, wages and benefits are not the only driving force behind the migration of jobs from this country to a place friendlier to the company in its quest for a healthy bottom line. I refer to the plethora of civil actions wherein employees or prospective employees can sue the company for a variety of reasons. The one I have selected was in the news recently. It was titled, “Muslim’s case looks at store’s policy.” The lawsuit alleges that a 17-year-old female was not hired because she was wearing a black hijab, or head scarf. The issue includes the whether or not the head scarf was not in the “look policy” of Abercrombie & Fitch for their sales associates.

On the surface it appears that the young prospective employee was discriminated against because of her religion demonstrated by her wearing the hijab. The rights of the prospective applicant are in conflict with the rights of the employer. The safe call is to side with the young applicant.

However, let’s look at that “bottom line” mentioned earlier. Should the company have the right to make company decisions based upon the image that they wish to portray?

The explosion of various “rights” outlined by law coming on the heels of the civil rights era list many items of concern for the employer. The company is in the business of making money, not engaged in costly lawsuits. It is after all the money of the investors or owners that is in the game. Have the “rights” of the business community been subjugated to that of the employees?

Whichever side of the equation you are comfortable with, one thing also is present. Companies move to a more favorable location that will help to increase the bottom line. The jobs are lost here and created elsewhere. If the company stays here, and possibly goes out of business because of wage/benefit, or “rights” issues, the jobs are still lost.

The company is not owned by the employees as a rule. Does anyone have a “right” to a particular job? Many will say yes not looking at the possible end result. If you are the one whose money is at stake what would your call be? It is easy to make a decision if you do not have “skin” in the game.

That the young applicant has a right to her religion is not in dispute but perhaps consideration must be allowed for a more proper time and place to exercise it outwardly.

Having “rights” might be putting you right out of a job!

Joseph L. Kibitlewski, PhD.

Cape Coral