ACLJ Files Lawsuit: Kay Jewelers Employee Fired for “Talking About God at Work” After Answering Questions About Her Christian Faith

Once again, the ACLJ is filing a lawsuit in federal court to defend an employee’s right to express her religious beliefs, this time in Ohio. Mika Cohen, the ACLJ’s latest client, was fired from her position as Assistant Manager for Kay Jewelers in Fairlawn, Ohio, for sharing her Christian beliefs with a co-worker after repeatedly being asked to do so.

While working at Kay Jewelers in June 2023, Ms. Cohen’s co-worker asked for her thoughts and opinions on a religious topic. Importantly, while Ms. Cohen’s co-worker prodded Ms. Cohen’s position on the topic out of the earshot of customers or other employees, Ms. Cohen politely attempted to avoid speaking on the subject completely by saying everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Nonetheless, the co-worker gave her opinion on God’s creation of humanity and kept prodding Ms. Cohen to share her religious beliefs. After being pressured repeatedly to share her beliefs, Ms. Cohen finally shared her beliefs on the Bible’s teachings.

There was no quarrel or hostility, and the short conversation ended. Thereafter, the two continued working together, even spending time together outside of work. A few weeks later, Ms. Cohen was shocked when an HR investigator at Kay Jewelers informed her that allegations regarding inappropriate discussions of religion at work had been filed against her.

Ms. Cohen took some time off for personal reasons, and immediately upon her return, a manager informed Ms. Cohen that she had been terminated from the company for “talking about God at work.” No further explanation was given and no termination letter was provided – Ms. Cohen was simply told to pack up her things and leave.

This uncalled-for and unjust termination left Ms. Cohen and her family without insurance to cover medical necessities and much of the income upon which they relied.

Signet, the parent company of Kay Jewelers, states on its website that it has an “unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity [that] empowers every one of our team members to feel safe, listened to, and accepted for who they are and what they believe.” (Emphasis added.) Clearly, this “commitment” only applies to non-Christian beliefs that do not align with the Bible’s teachings. Kay Jewelers’ conduct in this case demonstrates no valid basis to fire Ms. Cohen, and its lack of transparency or accountability for violating Ms. Cohen’s rights constitutes a blatant disregard for religious freedom and a demonstrative act of religious intolerance.

The ACLJ assisted Ms. Cohen throughout the EEOC process and just filed a lawsuit in federal court to hold Kay Jewelers and its parent company, Signet, responsible for its discriminatory termination of an employee for expressing her religious beliefs while maintaining employment of a co-worker who provided her secular beliefs.