Federal Lawsuit Over Employee Dismissal at Wisconsin Snow Park

A federal lawsuit has been filed against Crystal Ridge Ski Area, also known as Winter Sports Park, in Franklin, Wisconsin, claiming that a Christian employee was terminated for sharing biblical poems on his personal social media. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) made the complaint on Wednesday, alleging discrimination against the former employee who worked there from January 2, 2022, to June 12, 2023.

During his time at Rock Snow Park, the employee frequently posted on social media, including biblical poetry. According to the lawsuit, concerns were raised by the operations manager about the nature of these posts—specifically, that they could be “discriminatory against homosexuals.” Interestingly, when other employees inquired about sharing Bible verses, they received approval from the manager.

However, just three days after the manager’s remarks, the employee posted another biblical poem and was promptly fired.

The EEOC’s complaint emphasizes that the employee did not identify as representing his employer in any of his social media activities and that his posts did not target anyone at the workplace. Moreover, there were no direct complaints about his posts from the park.

The lawsuit points out that the employee had been with the company for a year and a half before his dismissal. The EEOC initially sought a settlement before turning to legal action. The park is accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects against discrimination based on religion in employment.

The commission is asking the court to impose a permanent injunction on Crystal Ridge, preventing it from engaging in discriminatory employment practices, and to mandate the implementation of new policies that ensure equal employment opportunities, regardless of religion. Additionally, they are seeking back pay, as well as compensatory and punitive damages for the former employee.

The EEOC emphasized the importance of workplace freedom from discrimination based on religious beliefs. It noted that while employers need to be vigilant about harassment at work, religious expressions made outside the workplace, which do not impact colleagues, should not be viewed as harassment.

In response, Crystal Ridge Ski Area denied the allegations, stating it values respect for all employees and customers. They clarified that the employment decisions leading to the lawsuit were not related to the employee’s religious beliefs but were instead based on performance issues and policy violations.

The legal journey ahead will determine how this case unfolds, and it raises broader questions about religious expression in the workplace.