DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that a Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop franchise in Michigan will pay $22,500 to resolve allegations of religious discrimination.
According to the EEOC, the operator of the Tim Hortons -- Sleenam Enterprises LLC -- fired Amanda Corley after she requested a religious accommodation. Corley was hired in 2015. On Nov. 16 of that year, she requested to wear skirts instead of pants to work because wearing skirts is part of her sincerely held religious beliefs as a member of the Pentecostal Apostolic church.
The company allegedly refused the request and fired her. Purported conduct of this nature violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"Under federal law, an employer has an obligation to fairly balance an employee's right to practice religion with operating its business," said Miles Uhlar, trial attorney for EEOC's Detroit Field Office. "When this obligation is not met, the EEOC will step in and protect workers."
In addition to monetary relief, the defendants must train its shift supervisors and managers on all forms of discrimination.