Liberals in the Washington State legislature are once again attacking the free practice of religion. Bills introduced in the House and Senate by some of the most liberal Democrats in this state’s congress would put employers in further jeopardy of frivolous lawsuits by disgruntled employees and former employees. In addition it furthers the business-unfriendly climate that exists here in Washington State.
I’m guessing that this is payback for the trial lawyers who supported them in their campaigns.
Aside from opening the door to violating the free exercise clause of the US Constitution, this bill has a broad and nebulous definition of what constitutes a violation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) An employer may not require an employee to attend a meeting, or listen to, or respond to, or participate in, any other communication when a purpose of the requirement is to ensure that employees receive communications relating to political or religious matters or to influence the employee’s beliefs, opinions, or actions about political or religious matters.
(2) An employer may not take or threaten to take an adverse employment action against an employee because the employee:
(a) Refuses to attend a meeting or listen or otherwise respond to, or participate in, any other communication that the employee reasonably believes violates or would violate this section;
(b) Challenges or opposes any practice or action that the employee reasonably believes violates or would violate this section; or
(c) Makes a claim, files suit, testifies, assists, or participates in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing involving any practice or action that the employee reasonably believes violates or would violate this section.
The fact is proselytizing, or evangelism, is a basic tenet of most Christian religions. Preventing anyone, no matter where they are or what they’re doing, from engaging in those efforts violates the free exercise clause. This law would likely hold the employer responsible any such efforts by any employee for simply allowing the free exercise of religion by any employee. Let me put it another way. If an employer allowed one employee to talk about his religion in the workplace another employee could claim that he was therefore forced to listen to it.
And you can kiss the company Christmas party goodbye. And forget about businesses partnering with religious charities to benefit the needy in our communities.
Makes me wonder what these people are so afraid of. Why does religion, especially Christianity, frighten these people so much that they make every possible attempt to squelch it? Talk about frightened and clingy.
Here’s how I think they should change this bill:
- Remove any reference to religion, since it’s covered in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which this law violates;
- Leave in all of the stuff about politics;
- Include labor unions everywhere that employers are mentioned.
This way some of the Republicans in the Puget Sound area who fear for their jobs just for mentioning their political affiliations will have some recourse and maybe some union members will feel free to vote their conscious instead of having to risk their paycheck and their safety.
Think that will ever happen?
Related:
COFFEE BREAK: business and politics
Update:
Holmquist: broad bill could limit free speech, cost jobs
Update:
‘Working Privacy Act’ dead amid ethical questions