According to the lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of a Pentecostal Christian girl who was allegedly fired for wearing long skirt instead of black pants, the Grand Prairie Burger King Franchisee in Texas failed to accommodate Ashanti McShan’s religious beliefs.
McShan claimed in her complaint filed before the EEOC that as a member of the Pentecostal Church, wearing long skirt symbolizes her being a religious follower to what was written in the Holy Book. Apparently, right from her job interview, she had already informed Burger King of this aspect of her religious faith and the company agreed that she could wear skirt instead of pants.
However, during her orientation, McShan was told by the store manager that her skirt was unacceptable, that is why she was sent home. Subsequently, McShan was never asked to return to work, according to the lawsuit.
The said lawsuit is seeking back pay, compensatory, and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief.
The EEOC trial attorney, Meaghan Shepard, said that accommodating McShan’s request to wear long skirt would have been simple and would not do any harm to the company. Moreover, Shepard said that the company’s failure to comply with the federal law deprived the teenage girl of the opportunity to work during her senior year of high school.
All employees and even applicants have the right to choose and practice their religion. Consequently, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was created for the purpose of prohibiting any form of employment discrimination, including such discriminatory practices based on religion.
Meanwhile, a Los Angeles employment lawyer reminded that said law indicates that employers and companies must not carry out policies that will single out employees and job applicants based on their religious practices and beliefs.
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