The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing the WMATA of discriminating against employees by failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for its dress code.
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Download NowIn the lawsuit, the Justice Department alleged that the WMATA violated Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 by failing to reasonably accommodate and provide equal employment opportunities to employees and prospective employees whose religious practices require an accommodation from WMATA's uniform policy for bus operators.
The department also alleged that WMATA discriminated against a woman who applied for bus operator position but could not comply for religious reasons with the portion of WMATA's uniform policy that required bus operators to wear pants.
At the start of the orientation process, the woman requested an accommodation that would allow her to wear a skirt instead of pants, consistent with her religious practice, along with the rest of the bus operator uniform. The Justice Department said that the WMATA summarily denied her request for a religious accommodation and terminated the hiring process.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, WMATA is required to implement and distribute a religious accommodation policy consistent with Title VII's requirement to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of all employees and prospective employees. WMATA also is required to provide mandatory training on religious discrimination and accommodation for its supervisory employees. Additionally, WMATA will pay $47,324 to the woman and $2,500 to each of the two other individuals who requested an accommodation.
In settling the lawsuit, the WMATA continued to deny the allegations.