Orlando McDonald’s Refused to Hire A Hasidic Jew Because of His Beard
- By Alison Lesley --
- 23 Jul 2019 --
EEOC has filed a suit
An Orlando-based McDonald’s franchise owner is being sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC claims that a Hasidic man was denied employment until he shaved his beard off[/tweetit].
The McDonald’s manager who refused to hire the man told him that he wasn’t able to hire him. Because it would violate McDonald’s policies and the law. The lawsuit says that the man said that he was a Hasidic Jew and religious beliefs prevented him from snipping his beard. However, he did offer a compromise, a beard net. He was applying for the role of maintenance staff in September 2016.
Orlando McDonald’s Refused to Hire A Hasidic Jew Because of His Beard[/tweetthis]
Even though he offered this compromise, the man was still denied employment even though the job description said that he wouldn’t be working with food. The EEOC has filed charges against Chalfont & Associates Group Inc. The EEOC said the group has violated federal law by refusing to hire a job applicant who would not shave his beard because of his religious beliefs.
The EEOC has said that during the man was told that he would be hired during the interview. But, he needed to shave his beard to follow McDonald’s grooming policy. When the man said that he wouldn’t be able to follow suit because of his religious beliefs, he was denied employment.
The man’s, Morteza Javadi, civil rights were violated. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the law prohibits religious-based discrimination and directs employers to accommodate an employee or applicant’s religious beliefs unless it imposes an undue hardship.
There has already been a failed settlement attempt. The suit is looking for back pay, injunctive relief, and punitive damages.
@USEEOC files a religious discrimination suit against a @McDonalds franchisee over the beard of a Hasidic Jewish man. #Florida https://t.co/QVfB7ziy8E
— David Neal (@DavidJNeal) July 17, 2019
EEOC Regional Attorney Robert Weisberg has said that McDonald’s grooming policies doesn’t excuse them from obeying the law. McDonald’s was aware of the applicant’s situation and chose to refuse to accommodate his religious beliefs. This goes against the law which states that employers mustn’t force applicants to choose between their religious beliefs, which can be accommodated and earning a livelihood.
The Miami Herald has reported that Hasidic Jewish men do leave their beards intact to follow their scripture. Leviticus 19:27 says, “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.”
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