When evangelizing goes wrong

A pagan is suing Panera for religious discrimination

Tammy McCoy, a Pagan, said she was mistreated at her Pennsylvania Panera Bread Co. store over her beliefs, and she has filed lawsuit in federal court. She worked for Panera for less than a year when, after a casual conversation over a break, things started going south.

Among the complaints are that McCoy’s hours were cut, and when she asked why, she was told that she “needed to find God” before returning to her “previous schedule.” She was reportedly docked pay for breaks that she did not take.

McCoy alleged that she asked to be transferred to a different store, to which the district manager reportedly said, “No,” and, “We’re probably going to get rid of you anyways.”

McCoy says she was also told, among other things, that for her beliefs she was going to hell, and that her hours would be cut until she “found God” — because threats are such an effective means of changing someone’s mind about religion. She was also threatened and ostracized.

She and her husband, another Panera employee, were fired in August 2020.

“Pagan” is a vague term but however it is defined, Pagans may number up to 1.5 million in the U.S.

And thanks, Mike, for the link.