Imperial Security, Inc. of Philadelphia has agreed to pay $50,000 to a woman who was fired for wearing a Muslim head covering, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced.
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Download NowAccording to EEOC, a woman who wears a khimar, a cape-like religious garb that covers her hair, ears, and neck, interviewed for a security guard position at Imperial. When she reported to her first work assignment wearing her khimar, she was told to remove it. The woman refused to do so because her religious beliefs mandated that she wear the khimar. EEOC charged that Imperial violated federal law by firing her instead of modifying its dress code to accommodate her beliefs.
“The 21st century workplace is increasingly diverse,” said EEOC District Director Spencer Lewis, Jr. “The resolution of this lawsuit should remind all companies of their legal obligation to provide a reasonable accommodation of an employee’s religious beliefs.”
In addition to the monetary payment, Imperial agreed to designate an officer to receive discrimination complaints and create a process for handling them; revise its employee handbook to permit religious accommodations; and create a disciplinary policy for employees who discriminate, among other measures.