Jewish World Review

JWR's Pundits
World Editorial
Cartoon Showcase

Mallard Fillmore

Michael Barone
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Greg Crosby
Larry Elder
Don Feder
Suzanne Fields
James Glassman
Paul Greenberg
Bob Greene
Betsy Hart
Nat Hentoff
David Horowitz
Marianne Jennings
Michael Kelly
Mort Kondracke
Ch. Krauthammer
Lawrence Kudlow
Dr. Laura
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Chris Matthews
Michael Medved
MUGGER
Kathleen Parker
Wes Pruden
Sam Schulman
Amity Shlaes
Roger Simon
Tony Snow
Thomas Sowell
Cal Thomas
Jonathan S. Tobin
Ben Wattenberg
George Will
Bruce Williams
Walter Williams
Mort Zuckerman

Consumer Reports


Fired for not drinking, suit alleges

http://www.jewishworldreview.com | (KRT) A salesman for Dallas-based Bombardier Business Jet Solutions alleges that his Mormon faith - which calls for a no-alcohol, no-tobacco lifestyle - cost him his job.

Monday, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it had filed suit against Bombardier, accusing it of religious discrimination and retaliation against former employee Michael Kolman.

The company fired Kolman in August 2002, after his boss complained that his abstinence hurt his ability to connect with potential buyers, and that customers would be offended by his behavior, according to the lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Texas.

Bombardier's marketing director, Steve Phillips, said Monday that he couldn't comment on the litigation because the case is ongoing. But he insisted the company doesn't tolerate any type of discrimination.

And, he said, "The role of alcohol has nothing to do with the sales process."

William Backhaus, senior trial attorney for the EEOC, said Kolman had received a favorable performance review in June 2002. But his career fell apart just a few weeks later, after he casually mentioned during a conversation with his supervisor that he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kolman and Backhaus allege

Donate to JWR

His boss and another executive then became critical of Kolman's work, prompting the salesman to bring his concerns to the company's human resources department, Backhaus said. Kolman was fired days later.

While he worked for Bombardier, Kolman frequently entertained clients and acted as their "designated driver" while others consumed alcohol, Backhaus said.

Although religious-discrimination complaints remain far less prevalent than complaints based on race or sex, they have been on the rise in recent years. The EEOC filed almost 2,600 such charges last year - up 65 percent from 1996, and accounting for 3 percent of the agency's actions in 2002.

Kimberly George, a director at the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding in New York City, said several religions have always discouraged or prohibited alcohol consumption, but the issue is becoming more prevalent as Americans' religious beliefs grow more diverse.

The issue of drinking, or nondrinking, can provoke religious tension in the workplace, she said.

"It's more an inadvertent and uncomfortable thing that's going on," George said. "Holiday parties become an issue. Or people have said, `My co-workers think I'm antisocial because I don't drink, and I don't go to happy hour.' That comes up with Islam too."

Coke Newell, a spokesman for the Mormon church, said members often encounter alcohol in social or professional settings, but most have strategies to deal with those situations in an upfront manner.

"Active and faithful church members are asked to not use tobacco products or alcoholic products, and we encourage a healthful lifestyle in general," Newell said. "I think most members of the church, especially those in business, come against this situation."

Kolman, who couldn't be reached for comment Monday, joined Bombardier's Atlanta staff in May 2001. He sold three new jets that year and assisted in the sales of two used jets in 2002 - earning annual salaries and commission of about $230,000, Backhaus said.

After losing his job, he was forced to give up his family's home and relocate to the Denver area, where he now earns between $50,000 and $100,000 selling single-engine propeller planes, Backhaus said.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


Comment by clicking here.

Up

© 2003, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services