Workers Forced to Pray, Say 'I Love You' at Long Island Healthcare Firm, Lawsuit States

By Daniel Distant, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, June 12, 2014

The exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington March 5, 2014. U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared to look for a compromise that would enable them to avoid overruling a 26-year-old precedent that made it easier for plaintiffs to negotiate large class action settlements. | (Photo: REUTERS/Gary Cameron)

Workers forced to pray and say "I love you" to others at their Long Island, New York health care firm spoke up about the unusual mandatory practices of their employer and now a federal lawsuit has been filed against the firm. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit Wednesday against United Health Programs of America and Cost Containment Group, its parent company.

The workers were forced to pray in circles, the God for their jobs, discuss deeply personal matters with their colleagues, tell co-workers "I love you" and read different spiritual texts, according to the lawsuit. The belief system, "Onionhead," was created by an aunt of the company's owner, and also required employees to wear Onionhead buttons, have Onionhead cards on their desk and keep all lighting in the workplace dim, NBC reported.

Anyone who didn't comply with the strange practices was disciplined or fired— something the EEOC called a violation of the workers' civil and religious rights.

"While religious or spiritual practices may indeed provide comfort and community to many people, it is critical to be aware that federal law prohibits employers from coercing employees to take part in them," Sunu Chandy, senior trial attorney at the commission, said in a statement.

In one incident, an IT project and account manager rejected the Onionhead teachings because she is Catholic. She was removed from her office and a large statue of Buddha was shipped in there instead. After she complained about the change, calling it a demotion, she was fired.

United Health Programs of America has responded to the lawsuit, calling it "meritless" and describing their customer service organization as a "caring, family-oriented business."

The lawsuit is requesting that a judge stop the company from using Onionhead in the workplace and compensate employees with back pay.