The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today announced the settlement of one religious discrimination lawsuit and the filing of another. The Pollard Agency, an Alabama-based security company, has agreed to pay $49,566 to settle a lawsuit charging it with refusing to accommodate a security guard's religious practices. According to today's press release, the lawsuit was brought on behalf of Marian Lawson, a Mennonite Baptist whose religious practice required her to wear a headscarf. Lawson was fired from a client assignment in Georgia. The settlement also calls for EEO training, reporting and posting. In the settlement, Pollard denies wrongdoing. (See prior related posting.)
A second press release announces the filing of a lawsuit in Arizona federal district court against Orkin Pest Control. The company is charged with denying jobs to older workers and favoring Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints applicants, particularly returned missionaries. It also allegedly retaliated against an applicant who complained to corporate headquarters about the policy. The Complaint charges that Orkin advertised on Craig's List for a recruiter to assist in hiring LDS missionaries for seasonal positions, saying that the jobs were great for returning LDS missionaries (who are usually young people). The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 51-year old Thomas Kokezas who was not hired after being asked his age in an interview.
