Suit Claims Employee Was Fired For Refusing To Wear "666" Sticker

AP reports today on a religious discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court in Georgia by a fired factory worker.  Pliant Corp. (now Berry Plastics Corp.) celebrated its safety record by having workers each day wear stickers displaying the number of accident-free days in their factory. In early 2009, the accident-free days moved into the 600's and employee Billy Hyatt told a manager that he would not be able to wear a sticker proclaiming 666 days. According to Hyatt's Christian religious beliefs, wearing this would force him to accept the mark of the beast and be condemned to hell. The manager assured him that he would not have to wear the number, but when the 666th day arrived he was told that his beliefs were ridiculous and he would be suspended for 3 days for not wearing the sticker. Several days later he was fired. The EEOC issued Hyatt a right to sue letter.