Target is under fire after a North Dakota employee claimed she was terminated for expressing her Christian faith through a simple message on her name tag. Following public criticism, the retail giant has apologized and reportedly offered to reinstate the employee, Denise Kendrick.
The Incident: A Name Tag and a Controversy
Denise Kendrick, who worked at a Fargo Target, said she was confronted by a manager on November 16. She was informed that her name tag, which read “trust in Jesus,” was against store policy.
“I replied, ‘Well, I’ve seen people with rainbows on theirs. I’m going to continue to wear this name tag,'” Kendrick told KVLY-TV. “And then they said, ‘Well, you can’t work here any more.'”
Kendrick claimed that for months she had worn Christian-themed T-shirts at work without incident. In a video on her YouTube channel, she explained, “For several months, I had been wearing my red T-shirts that I ordered myself, my Christian red T-shirts, OK. I didn’t wear the he/she/they/whatever T-shirts that Target supplied. I wore my own and never had any problem the whole entire time that I worked there.”
Kendrick emphasized that her name tag message reflected her faith, just as other employees displayed symbols of their beliefs.
Target’s Response to the Controversy
The situation escalated when Kendrick requested a written explanation for her termination. According to her, the manager refused and instead handed her a list of contact numbers related to the company’s dress code policy.
“They gave me this paper with all these phone numbers on it and said, ‘If you have any questions about the violation of the dress code, just call one of these numbers,'” Kendrick shared.
She believes a customer complaint may have prompted her dismissal. Earlier that day, Kendrick said she noticed a visibly LGBT-identifying customer communicating with the store’s HR representative.
Target addressed the incident in a statement shared with KVLY. “Upon learning of the situation, we conducted a review and determined that the team member should not have been terminated. We apologized to her and offered to reinstate her immediately,” a spokesperson said.
The company further stated, “We are taking the appropriate steps to address the actions taken by the individual leader involved in this situation and are working with the store to ensure our policies are appropriately followed moving forward.”
Standing Firm in Faith
Kendrick remains steadfast in her beliefs despite the ordeal. In her YouTube video, she encouraged others to persevere in their faith.
“Following Christ, you know, means taking up our cross every day and standing on the truth, guys. Now more than ever, OK, the darker it gets, the brighter our lights should shine,” she said.
A Broader Debate on Religious Expression
The incident has sparked wider discussions about balancing corporate policies with employees’ rights to express their faith. With Target’s apology and offer of reinstatement, questions linger over how such situations can be handled better in the future.
As Kendrick put it, “The darker it gets, the brighter our lights should shine.” This sentiment continues to resonate, fueling debate around inclusivity, tolerance, and religious expression in the workplace.
