Gina Uberti, in this case is Wiccan and had been prior to hiring with this company. Every year for the last six years of her eight year employment, she would take the week of Sahmain off and head to Salem, Massachusetts to celebrate the holiday. Her leave had been approved almost a year prior to the incident.
In 2008, a new manager had been hired into Uberti's store and had called Uberti to discuss why she was unavailable to her employers during her vacation. She also expressed her disappointment in the fact that Uberti would take a vacation during such a critical time in the company. Uberti informed her manager that the leave was approved almost a full year before. After her manager inquired as to why she would take that particular week off, Uberti disclosed her religious beliefs and explained what she believed and why October 31st was such an important holiday.
Her manager replied, "that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, let me ask you where your priorities should have been?" Uberti asked what was so ridiculous and was told, "Well, you will need a new career in your new year" and "I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team." Uberti was fired shortly after the phone call.
Because this is pending litigation, B&BW cannot say anything other than "no comment" until the case is resolved. However, I recommend going to their site and emailing them, if it be your will, to tell them that their Wiccan and Pagan customers will be withholding their custom until this matter is resolved in a just manner.
"Original entry"This. Is. BULLSHIT. Of course, the manager is free to have her own views and beliefs, but those views and beliefs SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT affect how she treats her employees, nor which employees she has working under her. This makes me so sad. I'm half tempted to go into the B&BW at the mall where I work and say something.
