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Never did I imagine that my case would reach the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court. However, Thursday’s ruling in my case, Groff v. DeJoy, not only brought it to that prestigious court, but it also restored religious freedom in the workplace.
As someone born and raised in Lancaster County, my desire has always been to contribute to my community. Even while serving on mission trips around the world, Lancaster has always felt like home. This is where my family comes from, and it is where my faith took shape. Lancaster is my sanctuary.
That is one of the reasons why working as a full-time postal carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, felt like the perfect fit. It would allow me to have a fulfilling job, working with amazing people while serving my community, all while being able to honor the Lord’s Day since the USPS did not deliver mail on Sundays at the time.
Unfortunately, that all changed when the USPS began delivering packages for Amazon on Sundays, putting me in a position where I had to choose between adhering to my faith or keeping my job.
In the beginning, I was able to find a solution by working closely with my supervisor: I would work on all holidays except for the Lord’s Day and take on extra routes on weekdays and Saturdays to make up for not working on Sundays.
SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF POSTAL WORKER WHO UPHELD RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ON SUNDAYS
Gerald Groff during a television interview near a U.S. Post Office, March 8, 2023, in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
I was always willing to make these adjustments. I genuinely enjoyed working with my co-workers, and I was thankful for their willingness to cover my Sunday shifts while I filled in for them on holidays or Saturdays. Many of my former co-workers have personally reached out to express their support for my case, and I am deeply appreciative of that.
In many ways, my case is about the co-workers who stood by me and understood the importance of honoring the Lord’s Day according to my beliefs. They willingly took on my Sunday routes and supported me in upholding my faith. Like the majority of Americans, they value respecting others and protecting the freedom we all deserve: the freedom to practice our faith in the workplace without fear of repercussions.
No matter how much I tried to accommodate the Postal Service, stepping in whenever my co-workers needed help, they refused to accommodate me. Instead, for nearly two years, I faced disciplinary actions, pay deductions, and even mockery of my faith. The work environment at the post office became so hostile that it was either leave or face termination. At that point, I knew I had to fight for religious liberty, leading me to file a lawsuit against the USPS.
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that employers are obligated to respect and protect the religious rights of their employees, including individuals like myself. By ensuring fairness in the workplace, we uphold the nation’s longstanding commitment to religious diversity.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
