Burger King settles suit over worker’s beard
The owner of a Burger King in Brookhaven will pay $15,800 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission on behalf of a Muslim employee who was fired in November 2004 after he refused, for religious reasons, to shave his beard.
The owner of a Burger King in Brookhaven will pay $15,800 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission on behalf of a Muslim employee who was fired in November 2004 after he refused, for religious reasons, to shave his beard.
The company did not admit to any wrongdoing.
In 2004, the restaurant had a policy that employees must be clean-shaven except for those required to have beards to practice their religions. The employee, Gary Majors, of Chester, brought a letter from his imam, but was still dismissed.
Under the terms of the settlement, Chriskoll Inc., a Philadelphia company that owns the restaurant, must pay Majors and provide training for managers about employees' rights. The suit was filed in Philadelphia on March 21, 2006.