Muslim Former Employee Sues Bed Bath & Beyond For Discrimination

The New York Daily News reports on a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by a former department manager at a Manhattan Bed Bath & Beyond store. In his state court lawsuit, Jose Alcantara alleges that he was subjected to months of harassment after he grew a beard that reflected his deepening Muslim religious faith. That faith was prompted by watching his mother-in-law dying from cancer.  He says colleagues continually referred to him as "terrorist" and the HR department, pressed by the store manager, ignored his complaints. He was ultimately fired for not showing up for work on 3 days which he says were supposed to be vacation days, but his schedule was altered to make it appear he was to work. The EEOC issued Alcantara a right to sue letter last July.