Nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey fired a dozen employees for having premarital sex which violates his company’s “righteous living policy.” The financial guru places a heavy emphasis on his employees living by certain principles and has reportedly canned several people for not adhering to company policy.
The terminations were first reported by the Tennessean. A former employee is now suing Ramsey Solutions for discrimination after she was fired for being pregnant and not being legally married to her baby’s father.
Caitlin O’Connor’s lawsuit states that she requested maternity leave paperwork ahead of her child’s birth when she was fired. O’Connor went before the company’s human resources board, who weighed whether she violated one of Ramsey’s 14 core values: “righteous living.” The company does not provide a list of rules to its employees about living righteously.
Tennessee is an at-will employment state; thus, companies may terminate their employees without providing any reason.
“Should a team member engage in behavior not consistent with traditional Judeo-Christian values or teaching, it would damage the image and the value of our good will and our brand,” an attorney for Ramsey said. “If this should occur, the team member would be subject to review, probation, or termination.”
