There are times when JW's are mistreated in the workplace and should take legal action but don't because they want to be a good example.
I remember in the late 1980's when my lovely Mom was in her early 50's and learned how to drive and got her first job ever as a Bank Teller. Although she looked like a film star, she never had enough confidence in herself or appreciated how smart and talented she was. Getting this job was a big deal. She was excited, scared and unsure all at the same time. We were all so proud of her. She had come to this country as a young woman with two children to care for, then later had two more, consequently she had never had a job outside the home before. Up to that point, she had only taken care of us and was an Aux.Pioneer. It was during the holidays when she started her new job. Wouldn't you know, right off the bat, the Woman Manager put her in charge of decorating the giant Christmas tree in the lobby of the bank. Of course poor Mom had to take a "stand" for Jehovah, when all she wanted to do is fit in at her new job and not cause any problems. The Manager was angry....couldn't stand JW's in the first place, now she had one working for her. She was rotten to Mom from then on. She'd come home in tears in the evening overwhelmed by what she had to learn as well as the way she was being treated. After the Holidays, the Manager announced in front of everyone that since Mom didn't help with the decorating, she could be the one in charge of taking them all down. Mom climbed a ladder in a dress and took down all the lights and decorations by herself and packed them up. She was then instructed to take the 20 foot tree down and drag it out of the lobby into the parking lot. Mom was an elegant and dainty woman and the tree was too heavy for her to manage and it came crashing down on top of her causing a big scene. The other women wanted to help but the Manager wouldn't let them. Mom managed to slide the tree across the marble floor then wrestle it halfway through the lobbies double doors, but it became stuck as the branches were too wide to fit. The customers and other employees were looking on as she struggled with it, she was embarrassed, her back was aching, she was sweaty and her hair was "all aske" as she later described it. Understandably,she became overwhelmed and then eventually, just plain angry. She went over to her desk, got her purse and ran out to her car and drove home in tears. Later the Manager drove over to our house, fearing that she'd be sued, I'd guess, because she apologized and begged Mom to come back to work. In a Christian manner,so as not to bring further reproach on the organization , Mom declined.
When we all got home that evening and saw her so upset ,feeling like a failure and heard what happened, my non JW Dad and us kids wanted revenge. But as always, she made us do the right thing. Mom never had the courage to try getting another job and broke our hearts when she died about two years later from Cancer. Oh how I'd have loved to know who that Woman was who was such a bully to my Mom....that would never happen today.
