Rastafarian Sues & Wins

The New York Times is reporting that Rastafarian workers will be allowed to keep their dreadlocks and cropped beards under a lawsuit settlement between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Grand Central Partnership, which runs the business improvement district around Grand Central Terminal.

The lawsuit, filed by the E.E.O.C. in September 2008, accused the partnership of religious discrimination in part because it suspended some of the workers for violating a grooming policy that forbade employees from wearing their hair outside their uniform hats. The workers argued that dreadlocks and short beards were part of their Rastafarian faith, adding that while they had tried to tuck their dreadlocks inside their hats, the growing hair made it difficult.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religions discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable religious accommodations as long as they do not pose an undue hardship.

As a result of the settlement, the partnership agreed to revise its training policies, pay $10,000 to each of four workers and remove any grooming-related disciplinary notices from their personnel files.

In 1995, the partnership was involved in a controversy when it appeared to condone the practice of harassing and beating up homeless people by outreach employees.

This isn't the 1st time Rastafarians have sued and won earlier this year a Rastafarian who works at Jiffy Lube was ordered to cut his hair, and he refused due to his religious beliefs. At first he case was ruled in favor of the employer, but then later overturned.

Thats right! Fight for your rights!


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!