Diversity training discriminates against homophobes
An ex-Rockwell Collins employing is suing the company for discrimination because they made him take diversity training. Does anybody see the oxymoron in that? Suing for discrimination for having to take diversity training? Well maybe not so much oxy as moron.
Apparently Thomas Meeker is a devout Christian and believes homosexuality is a sin. So when he got an email telling him he was required to take diversity training which, according to his lawsuit, “expected employees to welcome, value and respect differences of others in the workplace” he just couldn’t go there. I guess whatever Christian teachings Mr. Meeker has learned through his childhood taught him he can’t be respectful to other people who are different from him. I’m sure his church will be happy to know he’s following their teachings to the tee.
So Mr. Meeker told HR he refused to take the required the training. He says he went through one of the training courses and found it “offensive.” He told his manager and HR, “it promoted and insisted the employees accept, celebrate and embrace homosexuality.” Apparently his emails to HR were what was really offensive and so Mr. Meeker was fired.
Here lies the problem. In Mr. Meeker’s eyes he was fired because Rockwell Collins forced him to partake in the homosexual lifestyle, which is against his religion. Rockwell believes they fired him because he’s a fucking moron who can’t even make it through a couple of online training courses about not being an asshole in the workplace. Of course, I may be paraphrasing Rockwell’s position there.
Do people really read that online training anyway? I can’t possibly be the only one who quickly clicks “next” on each page until I get to the end where I have to answer the questions. Am I? I mean, unless you’re my boss, then of course I’m reading that training word for word, soaking it all in and taking copious notes.
I think Mr. Meeker completely missed the point. I’ve been through a lot of diversity training. I’ve had some online training. I’ve watched movies that were clearly filmed sometime in the 80s. Never once have I felt like my company was forcing me to accept something I don’t agree with (although I’m pretty liberal so there isn’t much I don’t agree with) unless you disagree with getting along with co-workers and doing your job.
All companies are trying to accomplish with diversity training is to get their employees to be cordial and check their judgmental attitudes at the door during business hours so other employees don’t feel threatened or that they are working in a hostile workplace. Nobody is telling him he can’t be a judgmental asshole if he wants to. They are just asking him to keep it to himself while he’s in the Rockwell offices and representing their company. You know the company who’s name and logo is was at the top of his paychecks. They are just asking him to be nice to people he does business with so they can all do their jobs. They weren’t asking him to kiss a gay man or hold hands and sing Kum by Ya.
I think Mr. Meeker will find it hard to find a company that doesn’t require him to go through diversity training. Especially when they do a Google search during their hiring process and discover he apparently can’t work with gay people without sending nasty emails to HR. Mr. Meeker needs to get off his Christian high horse and get a grip. It’s not homosexuals that are the problem in the workplace. It’s the assholes.
Wow! People are really getting even worse about sueing for crap reasons. I hope the court fines him for a frivolous lawsuit! And, he so obviously needs diversity training it is a shame he can’t make it thru it.
I’ve been thru a lot of diversity training (have worked at and/or contracted at a number of large companies) and never has the taught me that I must embrace other’s lifestypes,etc. It has only taught that you must recognize and accept that different lifestyles (culturally, religiously, etc.) exist and that you must respect them even if you don’t agree with them!!
I did attend diversity training once at AT&T (before the break up, when it was huge). They actually required contractors to attend the training as well as employees. The woman teaching the training was talking about stereotypes and how we needed to recognize the contributions of all, not just white males. And, there was a WOMAN in our class (she was an employee - actually worked on my team at the company) who stood up and challenged the instructor. She asked why shouldn’t white males get more privileges - they worked harder for them and were entitled to them. The instructor was stunned by the question!!
There are a lot of people in the world who are very “structured” in their thinking and don’t know how to even comprehend that different view points exist.
Mom
I sort of agree with Mr Meeker. If the company “expected employees to welcome, value and respect differences of others in the workplace” the problem word in that sentence is “value.” One does not need to VALUE something they personally find offensive. Perhaps if the company didn’t force Mr Meeker to accept something that was against his religion, he wouldn’t have reacted the way he did.
I liken it to the Muslim who is required to “welcome, value, and respect” that pork is served at the corporate cafeteria. “Welcome?” something that is blatently against their religion? I don’t think so. (Wait…homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Islam too. Hmm.)
HR needs to find another way to try and get us all to accept homosexuals without violating our deepest held religious beliefs. I think good ole fashioned, “live and let live” might work. How about the old “treat others the way you want to be treated?” What gives with “diversity and sensitivity training” to try and brainwash us to “accept and value” choices other people make all the time. It’s enough to make me hurl.
Just my .02.
My understanding of “treat others the way you wanted to be treated” includes valueing and respecting every human being, even if you disagree with or are uncomfortable with their national origin, handicap, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. It doesn’t mean you have to value their values - just respect them.
People don’t “choose” their origin, their upbringing or their sexual orientation. In fact, the primary “protected” class that is really a choice is their religion (though many would argue this is a primarily a product of their upbringing).
If you choose to follow a religion that is intolerant and bigoted, I would still respect your choice to do so, but would expect (probably an unreasonable expectation) to have you respect my religious choices also.
Mr Meeker wasn’t forced to accept something against his religion. He was asked to accept that all of his colleagues have value and deservice respect in the work place - something that he was apparently unable to comprehend, much less accept.
OMG - this is too funny. As I am reading this my husband is clicking ‘next’ through his online training. Some of the scenes are funny though. He did share the one scene on sexual harassment. Here was the scene - a guy asks two female employees “Do you want to have a threesome?” What?? Are you serious?! No shit that could make a sexual harassment case. The fact that they have to say “Please don’t ask other employees for threesomes” is quite sad, though entertaining for those who don’t have to watch the whole thing