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Man Faces Sack for Displaying Christian Symbol in His Van!

By Ian Brockwell  

A 64-year-old electrician, Colin Atkinson, has been summoned to a disciplinary hearing by his employers for refusing to remove a small palm cross from the dashboard of the company van he drives, and almost certainly faces the sack.

His employers WDH (Wakefield and District Housing) in West Yorkshire have said that whilst personal items (including religious symbols) were permitted in the office and could also be worn, such items could not be displayed in/on company vehicles. However, this policy was updated last December because the original was unclear.

Mr. Atkinson has worked for WDH for 15 years and has always displayed the cross in his van. However, this is the first time he has been asked to remove it. Apparently, the request followed a single complaint, presumably from one of the company's many thousands of tenants.

Initially, the company denied that this had anything to do with religion and stated that their policy did not allow "personal" items to be displayed in their vehicles. Yet the housing organisation later said that the demand to remove the cross was on the grounds that it may offend people or suggest that the organisation was Christian. Considering we live in a mainly Christian country (for the moment), I don't see why that should be such a terrible thing to be accused of.

Had Colin been driving a company vehicle in a mainly Muslim country (for example), I could understand the logic of the company's decision. Although I doubt if any Muslim country would threaten to sack one of its employees for displaying a religious symbol (supporting Islam) in a company vehicle, no matter how many complaints were received.

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This obsession of 'pandering' to ethnic minorities is becoming ridiculous to the extreme, especially when the same respect for other faiths is not returned in other countries.

Jayne O'Connell, the company's equality and diversity manager said "We have to be respectful of all views and beliefs" and added that staff could show their personal beliefs "discreetly". However, when asked if a Muslim woman wearing a burka at work would be considered discreet, she replied "If they could do their job effectively, then yes"

Whilst a company has the right to decide how their company vehicles are being used, and perhaps employees shouldn't display their personal beliefs, we again see a bias in who is most affected by these "politically correct" decisions, which seem to only protect the minorities in this country, leaving the majority wondering who protects them?

One person made a suggestion to Mr. Atkinson, and that was to wear the cross around his neck. This is allowable, according to WDH policy (even if you are driving a company vehicle), which should satisfy all parties and save Mr. Atkinson from being sacked. However, I wonder how long it will take before WDH change their policy to exclude this?

Ian Brockwell writes straight talking, honest stories that engage readers. Contact Ian through NewsBlaze.