WASHINGTON – In a shocking case of workplace bias, Essex County, N.J. has agreed to pay $25,000 to a corrections officer who was terminated for wearing a religiously-mandated headscarf. Yvette Beshier, a Muslim corrections officer, was suspended and later fired by the Essex County Department of Corrections for wearing a khimar, which is required by her faith. The county claimed that her headscarf violated its uniform policy for corrections officers.
According to court documents, Beshier had requested a religious accommodation to wear the khimar, but Essex County denied her request. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. government, alleges that the county’s actions were in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of religion.
‘An individual should not have to choose between keeping a job and practicing their faith when accommodations can be reasonably made,’ said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. ‘We are pleased that Essex County has agreed to give fair consideration to its employees’ requests for reasonable accommodations.’
The settlement agreement requires Essex County to adopt a religious accommodation policy and procedure and provide employees with training on religious discrimination and accommodation.
‘We are proud to partner with the Department of Justice in ensuring that the workplace is free of religious discrimination,’ said Jacqueline A. Berrien, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces Title VII.
The Newark, N.J., area office of the EEOC investigated and attempted to resolve Beshier’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the government for litigation. The Civil Rights Division is committed to the vigorous enforcement of Title VII.
The settlement is a significant victory for Beshier, who was terminated from her job in 2012. ‘I’m happy that the government has recognized the importance of respecting employees’ religious practices in the workplace,’ said Beshier in a statement. ‘I hope that this settlement will serve as a message to other employers that they must provide reasonable accommodations to their employees.’
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