If you’re Christian and read the Bible, then you know the Word says in Matthew – 10:33 “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” That’s one scary verse, and words I’d never want to hear from my heavenly Father. I’m sure the same goes for Jevgenijs Kovalkovs who was recently fired for standing up for his faith rights, which are not only God-given but are commanded by God.
A Christian man of God who was a factory worker over in Scotland was recently terminated after he told his line chief that he wouldn’t remove his cross jewelry as it had a “deep and profound meaning” for him, has won more than $26,000 in a religious discrimination lawsuit.
Kovalkovs, a quality inspector, was fired by his manager, 2 Sisters Food Group Limited in Coupar Angus, simply for wearing the silver crucifix that had been blessed during an immersion baptism service for his godchild.
Jevgenijs Kovalkovs, an individual from the Russian Orthodox Church said: “had lost a job as a result of the discrimination toward him,” Employment Judge Louise Cowen at the court in Dundee was cited as saying. “His religion and the wearing of his necklace were of deep and profound meaning to him.”
The God-fearing man joined the chicken wholesalers back in November of 2019 and got promoted to his previous role of quality inspector. He wore a white coat over his garments at work while his partners wore lanyards, identity passes, and keys around their necks.
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The line director noticed Kovalkovs silver cross and requested him to remove it or tuck it away. His reasoning was that it was considered a risk while at work. Kovalkovs was subsequently seen wearing the cross, which was a gift from his mother again at the industrial facility, and refused to take it off.
Christian factory worker fired for wearing cross necklace awarded $26K in religious discrimination suit
https://t.co/fZmUIVGdru— Prophecy Daily (@Prophdaily) June 18, 2022
According to the organization’s foreign body control policy, staff was not permitted to wear any types of gems, with the exception of a plain ring band, in the production regions on site. As for faith-based jewelry, they were required to adhere to pass a risk assessment test prior to being allowed.
With that in mind, the line director didn’t complete the risk assessment this time, feeling that the issue had been ‘fixed,’ as the board was told. Kovalkovs was then terminated for not complying with the company’s rules and regulations, and insubordination. His career was ended “immediately” as he was in his probationary period.
The board observed that his firing was based completely on the non-declaration of the religious cross necklace during the induction course he went through at the hour of joining. Similar to another case that occurred in 2013, Nadia Eweida, a British Airways rep, won a milestone fight in court at the European Court of Human Rights to wear a cross to work. The carriers had asked her not to wear her white gold cross “visibly.”
The court has ruled that it was in fact, an infringement of her privileges back then, just as it is in this case. I’d say this man aside from the sentimental value the cross has for him, didn’t deny God, and when we go by his word and walk by it blessings can truly rain down on us.