Federal regulators have accused the owner of a chain of Taco Bell restaurants in eastern North Carolina of failing to accommodate, and then firing, an employee because of his religion.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit against Family Foods Inc. today.
According to the lawsuit, sometime in April 2010 Family Foods told an employee in one of its Fayetteville restaurants that he had to cut his hair to comply with the company's grooming policy.
The employee, Christopher Abbey, is a practicing Nazarite who, in accordance with his religious beliefs, has not cut his hair since he was 15. He was 25 at the time that he was ordered to cut his hair and had worked at the Taco Bell restaurant in Fayetteville since 2004.
Abbey explained why he could not cut his hair but was told he could no longer continue to work at the restaurant if he didn't, according to the EEOC's lawsuit.
The EEOC accuses Family Foods of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires employers to attempt to make reasonable accommodations to employees religious beliefs as long as those beliefs don't place an undue hardship on the employer.
The EEOC is seeking reinstatement, back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for Abbey.
The lawsuit was filed after the EEOC failed to reach a settlement with Family Foods, the commission said in a release.
Business reporter David Bracken came to the N&O in 2004. He covers commercial and residential real estate. Contact David at 919-829-4548 or
Comments
Too intrusive
Fri, 07/29/2011 - 00:45 — FlowerpowerIt's too control-freaky to manage a person's SELF--no business has that right. It's intrusive into a person's SPACE to arrange their hair, tell them what to click on, or otherwise assume the role of their BRAIN. Creepy. The guy's hair is HIS hair, and he is the manager of it. Period. Control freaks do not belong in a democracy. . .
Who Cares?
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:29 — outhousecatIf his hair isn't nasty, or dropping into the food, who cares how long it is? He's been working there for 7 years. I can't imagine that all of sudden his hair is an issue.
Tell him to pull it back. End of problem. This isn't 1968. Personally, I like a guy with hair as long as it's clean.
If you really want to promote viable discussion, N&O, how about posting a picture?
Long Hair-Lose Job
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:23 — wek41Sounds about right to me.
Get a lawyer and sue 'em.
Most law schools these days offer specialties in religious suits and associated legal matters.
Sue,sue,sue....the American way.