Hiring Laws: Do I REALLY have to consider Republicans / Theists as viable candidates?

[Ladyhawk]

I'm disabled and I need some serious help. I'll be paying money I really can't afford to a "motivator" or "life coach."

This may sound strange to you, but this particular R2 unit (me) has developed a very bad motivator. My moods are unreliable and they influence what I can and cannot do. I may have a good day and get a lot done. Then I'll have weeks of bad days and whatever progress I made will be lost. (I have a severe form of depression that has never responded well to treatment.)

If part of the job description (being a motivator) requires that the person I pay be 1) intelligent and 2) non-judgmental (i.e. not a Republican), can I discriminate? I can't even imagine a Republican motivating me...except perhaps motivating me to jump off the nearest convenient bridge.

It's probably too much to ask that the person also be a freethinker. I'm guessing the population of atheists in my area is less than 5%.

What's the law in this matter?

[enlightenment]

1. I suspect, under the circumstances, that you will have the

opportunity to interview potential motivators, correct?

While you're not within your rights to ask them out-right what their political or religious leanings are, there are plenty of ways to get the answers you want.

Ask them if they have trouble working on Sundays - or, more honestly, ask them if they would have problems motivating an atheist. You're not asking them them to share their position, just whether or not they could do their job. If they are hard-core theists, you'll probably be able to tell.

As for politics, again - disclose your leanings. If they have an issue with liberals, you'll see it.

Plenty of people are capable of doing their jobs and leaving their politics and religion at home, so I assume you're only concerned about those that can't or won't do that - and a few questions or comments will give you a good idea.

If part of the job description includes being non-judgmental, you're within your rights to believe that someone who flinches when they hear you say 'atheist' is probably not going to fill the bill.

[Ladyhawk]

2. Yeah, I'm fine with someone who can do a job

and leave politics and religion out of it; however, if I'm to engage them in conversation (part of the motivation), we'll need a topic besides the weather. :)

And yeah, I already know the reaction I usually get to "I'm an atheist." It's amusing when people who think they know me say, "No you're not." :) Ever had that happen?

The other night, I was at a get-together that probably included most of the liberals in the county. I was showing someone my fossil shark-tooth jewelry and she said, "Don't you feel power when you put that on."

"No, I don't believe in that sort of thing."

"Come on. To make such beautiful art, you must."

Actually, I'm interested in the paleontology. I wonder what creatures met their end due to the teeth. It fills me with wonder that the teeth are millions of years old. But there's no power there. The teeth are rocks shaped by years of fossilization.

What can you do? :shrug:

[enlightenment]

3. Learn how to roll your eyes without it showing . . .

that's what I've had to do. :)

And oh, yes, I've heard "no, you're not" more times than I can count.

At those times, I have learned to silently repeat my personal mantra:

"Remember, it HURTS when you bang your head against the wall. Remember, it hurts . . ."

:banghead:

Good luck with your quest finding a helpful motivator.

[Ladyhawk]

4. What IS it with the "no, you're not"???

Probably, if they had you categorized as a "good person," you cannot, therefore, be an atheist.

Thanks, I have to get ready to look. Just thinking about it is stressful. It's hard to find the motivation to hire someone to motivate me. Think about it for a second and it will make sense. ;)

[onager]

5. "Ever had that happen?"

All.the.damn.time.

Last December I was back in South Carolina and had an amazing time-travel experience. My cousin/childhood playmate was visiting.

I sneezed and she said "Bless you." I jokingly said, "You don't have to bless me, I'm a non-believer."

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!"

Suddenly we were both 5 years old again. It just got ridiculous. I don't know how long that went on, but longer than it should have.

Most of the relatives know I'm a non-believer, but we all sidestep the "a" word.

I did sneak in some atheist propaganda on one visit, from an unlikely source: the stupefyingly long Civil War movie Gods & Generals. There's a scene where the famous Bible-thumper "Stonewall" Jackson visits the dying Confederate general Maxey Gregg.

When Jackson says he's praying for him, Gregg growls: "You know I'm not a believer."

Gregg was not only an atheist, but had an astronomical observatory built into his house in South Carolina. He also owned the second-largest scientific library in the United States--bested only by Harvard University.

And Jackson was something of a religious fanatic (and wooish hypochondriac), but at least he was consistent. He wanted his slaves to be able to read the Bible, so he held reading classes for them--which was strictly illegal in Virginia at that time.

Sorry, TMI again...