United States: EEOC’s "Gift" For The Holiday Season: Three Religious Discrimination Settlements

Last Updated: December 31 2013
Article by Richard B. Cohen
Fox Rothschild LLP

We discussed religious accommodation a lot in the last year, and on October 23, 2012 we commented that religion and the workplace is a big topic on both sides of the Atlantic, with the issue of religious liberty in the workplace bedeviling the courts.

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1. First, it announced that Miami's Dynamic Medical Services, Inc. has agreed to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit for $170,000. As we reported on May 10, 2013, the the EEOC's suit alleged that the company required employees to attend courses at the Church of Scientology, and also "to spend at least half their work days in courses that involved Scientology religious practices, such as screaming at ashtrays or staring at someone for eight hours without moving."

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2. On January 18, 2013, we wrote about a Burger King franchisee in Texas which had agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a case brought by the EEOC in which it alleged that a Pentecostal Christian cashier was fired for wearing a skirt to work. The employee, whose religion requires her to only wear skirts or dresses, contrary to the employer's policy that she must wear pants, claimed that she had been initially promised an accommodation but that she was fired nonetheless.

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3. Finally, as we reported on December 23, 2013, a Muslim employee of McDonald's in Fresno requested a religious accommodation: the right to grow a beard in accordance with his religious beliefs. His request was refused and he was fired. The EEOC sued and The Fresno Bee reports that McDonald's has agreed to settle the case for $50,000 and other relief. We titled the post "Beard Worth $50,000 To EEOC."

http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/283640/Discrimination+Disability+Sexual+Harassment/EEOCs+Gift+For+The+Holiday+Season+Three+Religious+Discrimination+Settlements