No Diversity at Autozone? Sikh Employee Fired For Wearing Turban; Sues AutoZone

By Whitney Jones
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) AutoZone harassed a Sikh employee for wearing a turban and eventually fired him, according to a lawsuit announced Tuesday (Sept. 28) by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission.

The suit said employee Frank Mahoney-Burroughs was treated like any other employee at the store in Everett, Mass., until he converted to Sikhism.

"For years, our client was a model employee," Sandeep Kaur, a staff attorney for the Sikh Coalition said in a statement. "Things changed as soon as he converted to Sikhism and started wearing a turban. Then, AutoZone managers called him a terrorist, told him that he was offending customers and terminated him."

When customers made terrorist jokes or called Mahoney-Burroughs "Bin Laden," none of his co-workers stepped up and intervened, the EEOC claims.

"I spent more time with AutoZone staff than with my own family and friends," said Mahoney-Burroughs. "It was very painful to be humiliated and insulted by them. They made me feel as though I had no right to practice my faith."

In addition to name-calling at the auto parts store, he was not permitted to wear a turban or the kara, a religious bracelet, both of which are articles of faith for Sikhs.

Free Online Diversity Workshops Set For August, September; New Info Discrimination Lawsuits

New EEOC data shows that religious discrimination claims have doubled in the past 15 years, and the number of settlements has tripled since 1997. This should not surprise most executives for two reasons, says diversity consultant Susan Klopfer.

First, the United States is seeing a broader mix of religious backgrounds as workforces diversify. Second, employees have become more litigious, "and they're well aware of the laws that give them the right to certain accommodations based on their religious beliefs."

Yet the real question for today's companies are whether they are seeing this and related employment discrimination litigation as a "problem" or at least some components as an opportunity to strengthen their businesses, Klopfer says.

The Iowa civil rights author is announcing three online workshops entitled "Five Costly Diversity Mistakes Companies Can Make and How To Avoid Them." Sessions are set for August 10, 24 and September 1 and run from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Central time. There is no cost and attendees receive a free gift, Klopfer said.

For the Thur, Aug 12, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM CDT online session, click HERE now to register.

For the Tue, Aug 24, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM CDT online session, click HERE now to register.

For the Wed, Sept 1, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM CDT online session, click HERE now to register.

"As our country becomes more and more diverse in every aspect, from changing family structures and increasing minority population to changing religious patterns, there is great opportunity for the organization that adapts to and embraces diversity, and this will be the focus of these online workshops," Klopfer said.

Klopfer, who holds a master's degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, is also the author of three books on civil rights, including her latest, Who Killed Emmett Till? Persons wishing to sign up for workshops can do so at Klopfer's website www.susanklopfer.com.