Texas has more lax employment laws than many other states, but we think this company might regret terminating a particularly litigious employee
When Jef Mindrup’s boss asked him to adjust the company’s newsletter, he flat out refused. The former director of marketing communications at Goodman Networks is Buddhist, and the company cofounder had requested that he disseminate daily Bible verses as part of the company’s daily communication with its 5,192 employees.
Mindrup had been delivering the newsletter for six years until March 2012, when he responded to his boss, saying he was “unable to add quotes or scriptures from the Bible as you’ve requested. I have always taken great care to avoid any quotes that would offend others as well as my own personal religious beliefs.”
His employer replied that the company respected his beliefs, but the next day, he was fired via phone specifically for his refusal to include Bible verses, with no warning or discipline. When he went to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Goodman Networks claimed his termination was part of a “pre-planned and well-thought out reduction in force.”
He has taken his case to a Texas district court and is suing for lost wages, damages for Title VII discrimination and punitive damages for pain and suffering.
Goodman Networks declined requests for comment
Mindrup had been delivering the newsletter for six years until March 2012, when he responded to his boss, saying he was “unable to add quotes or scriptures from the Bible as you’ve requested. I have always taken great care to avoid any quotes that would offend others as well as my own personal religious beliefs.”
His employer replied that the company respected his beliefs, but the next day, he was fired via phone specifically for his refusal to include Bible verses, with no warning or discipline. When he went to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Goodman Networks claimed his termination was part of a “pre-planned and well-thought out reduction in force.”
He has taken his case to a Texas district court and is suing for lost wages, damages for Title VII discrimination and punitive damages for pain and suffering.
Goodman Networks declined requests for comment