Billy E. Hyatt claims he was fired from Pliant Corp., a plastics factory in northern Georgia near Dalton, after he refused to wear a sticker proclaiming that his factory had been accident-free for 666 days. That number is considered the "mark of the beast" in the Bible's Book of Revelation describing the apocalypse.
Hyatt, who said he's a devout Christian, had worked for the north Georgia plastics company since June 2007 and like other employees wore stickers each day that proclaimed how long the factory had gone without an accident.
But he grew nervous in early 2009 as the number of accident-free days crept into the 600s. As the company's safety calendar approached day 666, Hyatt said he approached a manager and explained that wearing it would force him "to accept the mark of the beast and to be condemned to hell." He said the manager assured him he wouldn't have to wear the number.
When the day came on March 12, 2009, Hyatt sought a manager to discuss his request. He said he was told that his beliefs were "ridiculous" and that he should wear the sticker or serve a three-day suspension.
Hyatt took the three-day suspension, and was fired at a human resources meeting several days later. He then filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and his attorney Stephen Mixon said the agency granted him the right to sue the company in August.
The lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages and back pay, said the company forced him into a terrible situation: Keep his job or "abandon his religious beliefs."
The company, now known as Berry Plastics Corp., did not return several calls and emails seeking comment. It has yet to respond to the complaint in court.
In the Atlanta media Mr. Hyatt said he would have hated to get into a fatal accident on the job wearing the 666 sticker, and I quote: “...(have) the last thing that I did on earth is to accept the mark of the beast just so I could actually work."
Now you tell me, is it milk/meat, weak/strong, babe/mature to strongly believe wearing a peel off sticker celebrating the number of accident free days as tantamount to accepting the mark of the beast? I suppose he has a total meltdown if his Solitaire game ends up with three sixes in a row? I am sorry he lost his job over this issue, but all that will play out in court. Again I ask, where is this man’s Pastor?
Your scathing judgments of my motives and methods are mitigated by the facts: 1) The Lord knows the intentions of my heart, and 2) I would like nothing better than to sit down with Mr. Hyatt over his favorite beverage, open our Bibles and discuss the deeper aspects of our reasonable faith and the practicable application thereof. You may disagree with my approach, but I will stand blameless “in that day” for Mr. Hyatt and his immature belief that the 666 sticker was the mark of the beast. Bob-Better-Than-U, Really? Grow up!
I wonder if the company would have been so quick to pull the trigger had a headscarf of five breaks a day for prayer been involved?
It's good to see a christian stand up for what they believe in.
If Nero was the beast of Revelation, why did he not cause all to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead to be able to buy or sell? Why did he not have a grievous wound that should have been fatal but was healed? Why is there no record of the incredible miracles he preformed? You would that think with all the scholarship that exists on the Roman emperors; we would have at least a mention of these facts. Just asking.
If Mr. Hyatt’s is still writing paper checks, does he skip #0666? If he were looking for parking in a car park and the only open space was 666, would he pass it up? If his purchase at a convenience store totals $6.66, will he add something to change the total? Based on what we know from the Times article, the answers are yes. Furthermore, why does a new car not belch fire and brimstone when the odometer reads 666?
Outside the context of the book of Revelation, the number 666 has absolutely NO meaningful significance. Mr. Hyatt, get off the teet and on the meat. Grow up!!!
QUESTION: Mr. Hyatt, was said sticker be placed in your “right hand” or in your “forehead” as described in Revelation 13:16?
ANSWER: No.
QUESTION: Mr. Hyatt, would wearing said sticker authorize you exclusive access to “buy or sell” that you would otherwise be denied without the sticker as described in Revelation 13:17?
ANSWER: No.
Your Honor, I move for dismissal of all charges against Berry Plastics Corp.
Motion granted. Case closed!
Too bad we do not have a looser-pays statute in this state.