DETROIT (Legal Newsline) – An employee who was fired by a Tim Horton's Cafe and Bake Shop in Romulus, Michigan, is receiving more than $22,000 in a settlement over a religious discrimination complaint.
Amanda Corley allegedly was fired from her job at a Tim Horton’s Cafe and Bake shop after she opted to wear skirts instead of the uniform pants the franchise owner provided, Legal Newsline previously reported.
Following her dismissal, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began legal proceedings, which culminated in a consent decree signed on Sept. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.
Corley, who is a member of the Pentecostal Apostolic faith, allegedly even provided a letter from her pastor that stated her beliefs.
“Employers have an obligation to provide these types of reasonable religious accommodations, and when they fail to, the EEOC will step in,” EEOC Indianapolis regional attorney Kenneth Bird, whose jurisdiction includes Michigan, said in a press release.
The decree contains several requirements that the Cafe and Bake shop has agreed to surrounding nondiscrimination policies and practices.
These include not discriminating on the basis of religion and make reasonable attempts to accommodate those who request their beliefs be so accommodated.
They have also agreed not to retaliate against an employee who makes a religious accommodation request.
A financial settlement was also defined in the decree and includes $8,669.44 in back pay for Corley, $10,000 in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages of $3,830.56.
Sleneem Enterprises, the owner of the Tim Horton’s shop, has also agreed to have an outside consultant come in every three years to train all staff about discrimination matters.
As well, it must notify the commission of any requests for religious accommodation and all the details about the request and any action taken.
There will be a notice laying out these stipulations for all employees to see.
The decree, which was signed in front of Judge Denise Page Hood, will be in place for three years.