Post by Focus on Mar 17, 2013 8:45:16 GMT
A graphic designer is suing a hotel after claiming he was turned down for a job there because he is a Christian.
Jamie Haxby said he felt 'victimized and persecuted' after allegedly being told he could not design adverts for the Essex venue due to his faith.
Graphic artist Jamie Haxby, who was turned down for work at Prested Hall Hotel, Feering, Essex for being a Christian
Mr Haxby, a regular worshiper at his local church, says manager Celie Parker apologised for inviting him to the interview after discovering he was a committed Christian.
He claims he was then told he would not be considered for the role as his beliefs could upset atheists working there.
He is now taking Prested Hall country house hotel near Colchester to an employment tribunal on the grounds of religious discrimination. The hotel denies the claims.
The row is the latest in a series of clashes between Christians and employers over their rights to express their faith in the workplace.
But legal experts say this case is unprecedented because Mr Haxby apparently faced discrimination merely on the basis of his beliefs rather than his actions, such as wearing a cross.
The designer, from Fordham Heath, near Colchester, applied in December for a part-time job creating 'eye-catching' advertising and promotional material for the hotel in nearby Feering.
Mr Haxby, 24, said his problems began when he showed Ms Parker his portfolio, which included his designs for fliers for his local church and a T-shirt for a Christian charity.
He also displayed other items such as a logo for a furnishing company called Blue Lapin, a sleeve for a CD and material for a hairdressing business.
Mr Haxby said: 'Everything was going well, and I felt happy with how the interview was progressing. Celie made several comments about the high standard of my work and how talented I was.
'However, just over halfway through looking over my portfolio, Celie stopped me and said she did not think we needed to go any further.
My heart slightly sank as I could tell there was something she did not like. She then explained that she thought my work was brilliant, but that she and others on her team were atheists.
'She said that judging from my work I was clearly a committed Christian, and I understood from what she was saying that it would be very difficult for me to work there.
'I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I felt upset and angry.'
Prested Hall Hotel, Feering, Essex, where graphic artist Jamie Haxby was turned down for work at for being a Christian
Mr Haxby said he remained calm but told her his faith should not be the basis on which to judge him.
'She just said not to take it personally, but that it wouldn't be sensible and that it wouldn't work, or words to that effect,' he added.
'She also expressed regret over ever asking me to the interview and apologised for wasting my time. But I was feeling increasingly distressed and upset.
'I then said there was no way that this was right in equal opportunities Britain and that everyone should have an equal chance at getting a job.'
Mr Haxby said Ms Parker 'back-tracked' by agreeing to look through the rest of his portfolio, but remarked that other applicants were more experienced than him. He felt she was just trying to distance herself from her earlier comments.
He added: 'I told her I was not the kind of person who would preach at people or make them feel uncomfortable.'
Mr Haxby has now lodged a complaint with the East London employment tribunal, saying: 'I have been unlawfully discriminated against for reasons relating to my Christian faith.'
The hotel's co-owner, Mike Carter, said Ms Parker denied saying she or other members of staff were atheists who could not work with Christians, and claimed there were Christians already working at the hotel.
He said the religious beliefs of employees were not the business of the hotel's managers, and the marketing job had been awarded to another, more experienced, candidate.
But the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr Haxby, said: 'Jamie's case is shocking, and shows that discrimination against Christians is getting more brazen.
'There's no place for this anti-Christian intolerance at the hands of aggressive atheists. It's high time the Government took the issue more seriously' -- What the hell has the fact that Jamie is a Christian got to with his suitability for the post? ... If the applicant had been muslim then the hotel would not have dared to bring religion into the equation and then God forbid the guests would have had to cope with the sight of someone sprawled on the floor with their arse in the air pointing to 'Mecca' for most of the bloody day and that would put me off returning to that hotel for sure!! - Fx
