Fla. McDonald's sued for denying employment to Hasidic Jew because of his beard

By (CNA/EWTN)
7/22/2019 (1 month ago)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)

An Orlando-area McDonald's is being sued for denying employment to a man on account of his beard.

Highlights

By (CNA/EWTN)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
7/22/2019 (1 month ago)

Published in U.S.

---

Orlando, Fla., (CNA) - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the lawsuit on the man's behalf, said in their lawsuit that the McDonald's manager told the man that "he could not hire him because doing so would violate McDonald's policies and the law," News 6 in Orlando reported.

According to the lawsuit, the man told the restaurant that he was a Hasidic Jew and that his religious beliefs prevented him from shaving his beard, but that he offered to wear a beard net instead. He was applying for the position of a maintenance worker at the restaurant in September 2016.

His employment was still denied. The EEOC filed a lawsuit with the Orlando McDonald's July 17, three years after the incident. The man is asking for three years worth of back pay for the job in damages, News 6 reported.

Hasidic Judaism is an orthodox movement within Judaism in which men do not shave their beards, per instructions in the Torah. In the lawsuit, the EEOC argues that McDonald's violated the man's rights by declining his employment due to his religious beliefs.

In an interview with News 6, Rabbi David Kay with Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland, another Orlando suburb, explained that the beard was an "expression of faith" for Hasidic Jewish men, and that he considered the lawsuit to be a teaching moment on Jewish traditions.

"Anytime we have the opportunity to expand our awareness and understanding of how faith traditions express themselves, I think that's a plus," Kay told News 6.

McDonald's had not responded to News 6 requests for comment by press time. It is unclear why this lawsuit is being filed now instead of immediately after the incident occurred.

More U.S.

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

Bishops praise proposal to clarify religious exemptions for federal contractors Watch

Leaders at the U.S. bishops' conference have praised a U.S. Labor Department proposal to clarify protections for religious employers ... continue reading

---

Ex-Philly pastor arrested for charges of embezzling roughly $100,000 of church funds Watch

 A priest in Downingtown, Penn., a suburb west of Philadelphia, was arrested yesterday for stealing roughly $100,000 in church funds ... continue reading

---

---

In first-ever event, UN commemorates religious victims of violence Watch

The United Nations General Assembly has designated Aug. 22 as the first-ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of ... continue reading

---

White House criticized for push to allow indefinite detention of migrant kids Watch

The White House announced on Wednesday that it would look to terminate court-approved limits on detention of migrant children and families, ... continue reading

---

Florida bishops: Serial killer's execution is 'unnecessary' Watch

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is pleading for Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop the execution of Gary Ray Bowles, who confessed to ... continue reading

---

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »