A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Brad Amos, a former employee of Ramsey Solutions, in a religious discrimination case. Amos, a video editor, was terminated from the company during the COVID-19 pandemic after refusing to conform to the company’s faith-based views on pandemic responses. Ramsey Solutions, led by Christian personal finance advisor Dave Ramsey, maintained that the pandemic should be managed by “faith, not fear,” and discouraged practices like mask-wearing and social distancing, which they viewed as contrary to God’s will.
Amos claimed that his religious beliefs, which included following the Golden Rule, compelled him to adhere to CDC guidelines, leading to conflict with the company’s policies. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Amos’s belief in the Golden Rule qualified as a religious claim and was protected under federal law. The court further stated that religious non-conformity, where an employer requires an employee to follow specific religious beliefs, is a form of discrimination.
Lower Court and Appeals
Previously, a U.S. District Court had dismissed Amos’s claims, asserting that his allegations did not sufficiently demonstrate a conflict between his religious beliefs and his employment requirements. However, the appeals court found that the lower court erred in its judgment, highlighting that federal law protects employees from discrimination based on their refusal to conform to their employer’s religious practices. The case has been remanded for trial in the lower district court.
EEOC’s Involvement
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) supported Amos during the appeal, arguing that the term “reverse religious discrimination” was misleading and that cases like Amos’s should be viewed through the lens of “religious non-conformity.” The EEOC emphasized that such cases focus on the employer’s imposition of religious beliefs on employees, which is also a form of religious discrimination.
Ramsey Solutions’ Response
Ramsey Solutions denied that religion played any role in their pandemic protocols, arguing that the dispute with Amos was purely about safety measures. The company has faced several lawsuits related to its faith-based policies, including a recent case involving an employee terminated for premarital sex.
The appeals court’s decision marks a significant step for Amos, allowing him to pursue his discrimination claim in a lower court. However, the court upheld the dismissal of Amos’s fraud claim, stating that he did not adequately investigate the workplace culture at Ramsey Solutions before accepting employment.
Source:
Appeals Court Rules Against Dave Ramsey’s Company in Religious Discrimination Case
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