Another example of just how broadly the feds are interpreting employers’ religious accommodation responsibilities: A Kentucky company will pay compensatory damages to a woman who was turned down for a job after she said wearing trousers would violate her Christian beliefs.
Here are the details from the EEOC: Megan Woodard, a University of Kentucky student, is a member of a fundamentalist Baptist church whose members believe that women should not dress like men — including refraining from wearing pants.
Woodard applied for a temporary job at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, but was denied a position due to her request for the religious accommodation not to wear pants.
She filed a complaint with the EEOC, which eventually filed a religious bias suit against the employer, The Patty Tipton Co.
Eventually, the parties negotiated a consent decree which provides the applicant with back pay and compensatory damages of $5.000.
The decree also requires the company to provide anti-discrimination training, report discrimination claims, and officially prohibit any discrimination or retaliation under Title VII.
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