The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a complaint on behalf of three former employees of United Health Programs of America Inc., who claim they were fired for refusing to take part in religious practices at work, including holding hands in group prayer and saying “I love you” to their bosses and colleagues. Others felt pressure to leave voluntarily, according to the complaint filed in the Eastern District Wednesday.
The complaint claims that employees of United Health have been forced since 2007 to participate in a belief system called “Onionhead.” Employees were required to wear Onionhead pins, dim the lights to maintain a pious atmosphere and meet monthly with the aunt of the company’s owner to discuss literature about “divine plans.” It is unclear whether the aunt was an employee, said EEOC senior trial attorney Sunu Chandy.
