EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES

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AMERICAN FLAG & LOYALTY OATHS The Jehovah's Witness Employee's beliefs that the American Flag is a "false idol", and that saluting the Flag or reciting the Pledge are acts of "worship", can result in extremely embarrassing situations, with lingering results, in the foreseeable situation where a Jehovah's Witness Employee is approached by co-workers distributing American Flag stickers, lapel pins, or other similar patriotic items around the Independence Day holiday, or especially during emotional times of patriotic fervor like post-9/11. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society also teaches Jehovah's Witnesses that all human governments, including the United States of America, are active partners with Satan in his rebellion against GOD. Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to engage in any patriotic acts or activities, including signing or reciting "Loyalty Oaths". Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to vote. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to engage in politics. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to serve in the military, or work for employer's who service or supply the military. Any of these topics discussed during breaktime or casually brought up while working can give opportunity for your Jehovah's Witness Employee to be offended, or for the Jehovah's Witness Employees' response to offend co-workers or customers.

CONFIDENTIALITY LIMITATIONS The Jehovah's Witness Employee's practice of reporting fellow Jehovah's Witnesses who have violated Watchtower rules can result in extremely serious legal consequences for an employer in the foreseeable situation where a Jehovah's Witness Employee who has job-related access to confidential medical, legal, business, or personal records discovers that a fellow Jehovah's Witness is hiding the fact that they have done something prohibited by the Watch Tower Society, and then the JW Employee discloses that confidential information to Watchtower leaders. Because this Jehovah's Witness practice may lead to employers being sued by the aggrieved Jehovah's Witness, this Watchtower practice has been addressed in newspaper articles, and articles in magazines such as the American Bar Association Journal, Business Insurance, and Medical Economics.

NO BLOOD!!! The Jehovah's Witness Employee's practice of refusing to permit medically necessary blood transfusions for not only themselves, but also their spouse and children, can result in the employer paying higher Workers Compensation or Life & Health insurance premiums, and maybe even having their policies nonrenewed, in the foreseeable situation where a Jehovah's Witness Employee is seriously injured on the job, or where their spouse or children suffer serious injury in an accident, and what would normally be a survivable scenario turns into a fatality.

SHUNNING The Jehovah's Witness Employee's practice of "shunning" (treating as if dead) persons who have been disfellowshiped (excommunicated) from the Jehovah's Witnesses can result in extremely embarrassing situations, with lingering results, in the foreseeable situation where a Jehovah's Witness Employee must service a customer or cooperate with a co-worker who has been disfellowshiped. There are a handful of anecdotal stories posted on discussion boards, etc. in which former JWs relate being shunned while shopping by JW Employees at supermarkets, "mart" stores, etc. Thus far, store management's positive response to customer complaints regarding such appears to have prevented lawsuits.

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