Former Kentucky nursing home employee says she was fired because of her Wiccan beliefs
A former employee of a Kentucky nursing home has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging she was wrongfully terminated because she is Wiccan and refused to take part in prayers led by the facility administrator.
Rebecca Spears filed the suit against Signature Healthcare at Tanbark in Lexington, claiming they discriminated her religious beliefs, wrongfully terminated her employment and retaliated against her, according to court documents.
The Herald-Leader was not able to reach staff or administrators of the Tarbark facility for comment Wednesday.
Spears began working at the nursing home in June 2021 as a nurse and coordinator. She is a practicing member of the Wiccan religion, a modern pagan religion that emphasizes nature and direct spiritual experience.
In April 2023, the lawsuit said Spears was confronted by the administrator of the facility, Israel Ray, who asked why she did not participate in Christian prayers during their morning meetings.
Spears told Ray she is a practicing Wiccan and did not share the same religious beliefs; as a result, Ray was offended by her response and began “discriminating against her,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states Spears was then barred from the morning meetings, isolated from other staff and was prevented from accessing important work-related information, according to the lawsuit.
Spears had also made many complaints to facility staff regarding unhealthy amounts of toxic mold growing as a result of flooding, the lawsuit said, but her concerns were unaddressed.
Spears filed complaints regarding unsafe conditions and religious discrimination to human resources, but none were investigated by facility officials, according to the lawsuit.
On May 12, 2023, Spears said she was informed she was being terminated for unspecified conduct and behavior and that she was “no longer a good fit.”
No other details about the termination were mentioned, the lawsuit states. Spears believes her termination was retaliation for her complaints filed and pretext for religious discrimination.
Spears never received a verbal or written warning before the termination, according to the lawsuit.
She requests the court require Signature Healthcare to abolish discrimination, harassment, retaliation and implement changes within two years that create a process for investigations of discrimination and complaints.
Spears is seeking monetary and compensatory damages worth $50,000.
This story was originally published November 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
