Written by Don Byrd
The Voss Lighting Company tried to hire an operations supervisor that conformed to certain religious beliefs of management, even advertising the position in a Baptist Church. When the only qualified applicant, Edward Wolfe, did not answer religious questions satisfactorily in interviews, he was not hired. Religious discrimination of that sort in hiring is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act, according to the EEOC, which filed a lawsuit on Wolfe’s behalf.
Earlier today, Voss settled the suit, agreeing to pay Wolfe $82,500 and to place non-discrimination notices in all of its 21 locations. (emphasis added)
“Refusing to hire a qualified job applicant because his religious beliefs do not comport with those of the employer’s leadership is illegal, even if the for-profit company purports to have a religious mission or purpose,” Barbara A. Seely, regional attorney of the EEOC’s St. Louis District Office said in a news release. “The evidence in this case suggested widespread religious discrimination throughout the company, not just its Oklahoma locations. The EEOC is optimistic that the corporate-wide remedial actions agreed to by Voss Lighting will put an end to the role religion plays in its decisions affecting applicants and employees. If not, we will be back in court again.”
Clearly, the goal in this case wasn’t just to target the wrong-doing experienced by Wolfe, but also an allegation of systematic improprieties.
