Written by Don Byrd
Once more, this time with feeling: you can’t fire a worker for wearing a headscarf when removing it would violate her religious beliefs. The law prohibits it. It will cost you.
The EEOC yesterday announced a settlement with a New Mexico hotel:
704 HTL Operating, LLC and Investment Corporation of America, doing business as MCM Elegante Hotel in Albuquerque, has agreed to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for $100,000 and other relief, the agency announced today.
The settlement resolves an EEOC lawsuit. . . for alleged religious discrimination against Safia Abdullah, who was hired for a housekeeping position at the hotel. The EEOC’s lawsuit charged that this employer would not allow Abdullah to work unless she removed her religious head covering, and fired her when she declined to do so.
…
In addition to monetary relief for Ms. Abdullah, the consent decree settling the suit provides for other important relief, including an injunction prohibiting future discriminatory practices; institution of policies and procedures to address religious discrimination and retaliation; training for employees of MCM, and managers and human resource officials of both defendants on religious discrimination; and posting a notice advising employees of their rights under Title VII.
