According to FedEx's grooming guidelines, its employees may not have visible any jewelry with personal insignia. Graves said she learned the hard way that "personal insignia" includes crosses. Graves says she was placed on administrative leave on Tuesday after refusing to hide a cross that she wears on a necklace.

Graves has worked for FedEx in Springfield for two-and-a-half years. She says she loves her job but loves her Christian beliefs even more. So, she says, when she was told to either hide her cross or face administrative leave, she chose to have faith.

“To hide that would be a conscious act of denying Christ and my faith," she said.

Graves says it stems back to a FedEx dress code policy about which she learned in August. It says “jewelry with personal or political insignia should never be visible.”

Graves says she didn't know what “personal insignia” meant until last week, when her supervisor told her it includes the cross that she wears around her neck.

“It's harmless but completely necessary for me," she said.

Graves says she continued to visibly wear the cross until Tuesday when she was approached again.

“I was asked by my immediate supervisor to hide it again and I told them I couldn't do that. I wouldn't do that.”

So, according to a document signed by her supervisor, Graves was put on administrative leave for suspicion of violating the company's dress code policy.

“It worries me. I have a family. I'm a single mother.”

Graves says she can go back in seven days if she agrees to comply with the dress-code policy and hide her cross but that won't happen.

“I can't find peace in putting this away so as to not offend someone else.”

Graves admits she was also told she violated the dress code policy by wearing the wrong type of pants. She says she would be willing to buy new pants but she's not willing to hide her cross.

In a statement, a Fedex spokesperson says, "Our team member is still employed with the FedEx office and is on leave for not complying with our dress code until she comes into compliance. She signed the code upon hiring and at least three times since, including in the last 30 days.

"Her administrative leave is attributed to being out of uniform for multiple months. There are personal insignia limitations in the dress code but religious exceptions are given when requested and validated."

Graves says she didn't know and wasn't told she could apply for a religious exemption. She says she would have done so if given the opportunity.