No Change to Judgment in ‘Onionhead’ Religion Case (Corrected)

A discount medical plan provider in New York must pay a group of former employees nearly $400,000 for coercing them into participating in the “Onionhead” or “Harnessing Happiness” belief system of the CEO’s aunt, who was hired as a consultant, a federal court in Brooklyn ruled.

There was ample evidence the United Health Programs of America Inc. and Cost Containment Group Inc. employees experienced a hostile work environment following Denali Jordan’s hiring, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York said March 6.

Jordan was hired by her nephew, CEO Robert Hodes, in 2007, the court said, ...