Religious Intolerance of Subway Employee

Unlike you I would be offended by her eagerness to project her
religion, even though I am Christian.
Religion is not something that should be forced on another ever as its
a choice.

I would suggest that you complain directly to the manager at that
store and also inform him/her that this only happens with this one
person. If he/she agrees with the employee then give your money to
another business that will not judge you.

Good Point.
Im surprised that the Veggie sandwich is not the same price as the
special.

I'm reallllyyy cheap, and I would be equally annoyed if I couldn't get
the savings you mentioned. Religion has no place in business so I
agree with you on that part as well.

I use to work in the food industry and I would try and figure out ways
for people to save something her and there. But at the same time it
could be an invantory thing. I know from experience working at a ski
lodge. they have everything fighured out to the T. I forgot to charge
someone for a side of ranch and they knew a side wasnt payed for. so
it could have been a portion thing, not a religious thing.

In your favor:
the woman's faith might be strong, but there's no reason to force it
on you. i'd say talk to the manager and ask her to keep the girl in
check

not in your favor:
the sandwich charge might not be because of your faith. it might
simply be that they figured out you were trying to get a veggie
sandwich cheaper than they're suppose to sell them.

neat trick on how you were doing it, but... they may have had a policy
on that, or perhaps a recent company memo.

it may have nothing to do with your faith whatsoever.

I guess some stores don't agree with some peoples comments about not
touching religious comments when working with customers in their
business.

Just saw a story online where Forever 21 has a religious message on
all their bags. I have seen complaints on this site about the company
but don't think this was ever brought up.

Apparently all their bags are stamped John 3:16.

Amyway just my opinion but this Subway might be owned and ran by a
group of religious people.

IF so they have a right to say what they like regarding Jesus, and you
have a right to ignore and state as you did you difference.

Should you have to hear it when ordering a sandwich...Probably not.


I don't think they should be offensive to someone that believes
something different from them.

Interesting that they charged more for a sandwich without the meat
unless you made a lot of special request about what vegs you wanted
added. If they made the same thickness of sandwich without the meat
seems a bit silly to charge more.

As someone that is anglican by baptism and no religion by choice who
doesnt believe in god, I think that people should just leave their
religious comments to themselves. It's one thing to ask questions
about a religion, it's another to mock it, or put someone else down.

I will leave it at that.

I once worked in an office where a woman was fired for adding "Go with
Jesus" to the signature on her company related correspondence with
customers. No one knew she was doing this until complaints came
pouring in. This cashier needs to be reported to the management. She
has no business talking to a customer about her religion nor punishing
them because of their different beliefs.

This is a sore spot for me. While I am of a Christian background
(protestant), I label myself as more of a "spiritual free-thinker".
So, needless to say, I tend to feel VERY uncomfortable when forced to
go to anything with "extreme" Christians. The churches I have gone to
really push a spiteful God, and the parishoners all seem to be people
in recovery or ex-cons, and to be honest with you, I think these
churches prey on people in their darkest hour and then tell them that
if they aren't super vocal about their beliefs that they might as well
be denying Jesus. You wouldn't believe the treatment my fiance at the
time (now husband) and I got when we decided to have a baby before we
got married. This wasn't even our church! For the record, the family
members that went there also no longer do. I guess they saw through
the b.s.

I recently read a great novel that focuses on this type of Christian
sect, it's called "The Abstinence Teacher." If you like to read,
you'll really enjoy it, I was totally able to relate after having met
so many of these "Christians".

I'll leave you with one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians
are so unlike your Christ."
-Mahatma Gandhi

I'm totally with you.

These are things that you never want to bring up with customers and
maybe even deflect them if the customer brings it up themselves:
religion and politics. Maybe there's more to add to that list, but
those are the big no-nos.

There is only one time I can think of that I brought up religion with
a customer and she was wearing a tee shirt from my church, so I just
made the comment, "oh, I go to that church, too." And that was that.
Wait, there are a few other times, when I see families shopping for
First Communion dresses, I might ask about it.

And I can't believe that they charge more for a veggie sandwich than
one with meat. Is there anything "special" about the veggie sandwich,
besides no meat? You shouldn't have to order the meat sandwich and
hold the meat. Oh yeah, and I don't think the associate should deny
you ordering in this way.

Retail workers should treat every customer equally and with fairness.
But I've seen even some of my own co-workers be less friendly than
they should to people who obviously have different religions than the
area's norm (such as Muslim women). It's just wrong and no one should
accept being treated this way just because they hold different
beliefs.

First, it is inappropriate to make assumptions about a customer's
religion and to share those assumptions verbally while on the clock.
Not being particularly Christian myself, I don't understand the
significance of the tilak in Christianity, but I can guess there are
many crossovers in religions. You said you weren't particularly
offended, but it still is inappropriate.

Second, it is also inappropriate to "punish" a customer for not
sharing the same beliefs as you. The cashier in this case did so in a
subtle way, but it doesn't change the behavior.

There is a also a third part to your complaint that you may not even
realize: they are charging more for a veggie sandwich than they are
for one with meat. I realize this wasn't the focus of your complaint,
but I think still think it's wrong.

It doesn't look like your complaint was addressed to anyone in
particular, so hopefully it will get to the right place.

In some places, there is definitely a religious culture. A few weeks
ago, I was in a state government building, where Jesus and the Lord
were mentioned several times in a meeting. I've been in a bagel
bakery and have been wished a "happy holiday" and realized that the
holiday was Rosh Hashana.

All depends on the neighborhood. But, yes, the presumption that
you're Christian and, of course, would have Jesus, is common in some
areas.

What strikes me is that it'd rather un-Christian to spite someone by
charging them more for a sandwich. If she thinks you need saving,
then ripping you off on your food purchase is the wrong way to go. If
bringing you to Jesus is important to her, then she should just come
out and try to convert you. If keeping quiet is more important to her
(perhaps because her boss told her not to preach religion on the job),
then charging you extra seems to be a lousy was of accomplishing her
goal of spreading the Word.

Not that I doubt this. History is filled with people using all sorts
of petty and not-so-petty (genocide) examples of coercion to
non-believers.

Someone who is so wrapped up in their version of god is not going to
be openminded enough to even consider the possibility that someone
else has a different view and belief system, and that belief system is
as valid as their own.

I'm on your side. Fight the good fight.

Personally, if this woman had said these things to me, I'd have laid
into her. I have no room for people who get preachy. If they're
gonna get preachy, they're going to regret it. And I will mock their
god just for spite because preachiness just irks me to no end.

I agree with your "stand up" approach and would do the same with an
expectation of change from the manager ON THE SPOT. Mocking their god
does not accomplish a thing, but lower you to the same uneducated
level as the offender. I have read many of your reponses and know you,
of all people, would be the epitome of respect with your first request
then all deals are off.

Ric, what's the name of the store? I can't find it anywhere in your
letter. You might want to send it again and include the name of the
business.

I would think this is more of a case of employees not having a clear
guideline to follow under for the circumstances, and not religious
discrimination. The woman should have never mentioned Jesus in the
first place, as religious talk should be kept out of the workplace,
and certainly not brought up in front of customers.