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About this Article
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EEOC Charges United Parcel Service with Religious Bias due to 'No Beard' Policy
NEWARK, N.J. - Global shipping giant United Parcel Service (UPS) committed religious
discrimination at its Secaucus, N.J., facilities, by refusing to hire a Rastafarian as a driver helper
because of his beard, which he wore for religious purposes, the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges in a lawsuit.
EEOC says that UPS required Ronnis Mason to shave his beard if he were to be hired for
that position helping with customer deliveries and requiring customer contact. Mason wears his
beard as part of his observance of Rastafarianism, a Jamaican-born religion with around one million
adherents in the world. Mason explained to UPS that he could not shave his beard, and UPS told
him that he could then only apply for an "inside," lower paying position that would not have contact
with the public.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to employees' and applicants' sincerely held religious beliefs as long as this does not pose
an undue hardship. The EEOC alleges that by refusing to accommodate Mason's religion and by
not permitting him to work as a driver helper, UPS interfered with Mason's employment opportunities and ability to make a better living in the higher-paid position he sought. The EEOC filed
suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark after first attempting to reach
a voluntary settlement.
"Employers are not permitted to deny an individual equal opportunities because of that
person's religion, and the EEOC will seek full relief against employers who discriminate," said
Elizabeth Grossman, the EEOC's New York District regional attorney.
Spencer H. Lewis, Jr, director for the EEOC's New York District Office, added, "Employees
are entitled to an accommodation of their sincerely held religious beliefs and practices they should
not be hidden from the public in the back room or paid inferior wages simply because they are
practicing their religion."
According to its web site, Atlanta-based UPS had $42.6 billion in revenues in 2005 and has
407,200 employees worldwide (348,400 in the United States).
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing the nation's laws prohibiting discrimination in
employment based on race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), religion,
national origin, age, disability, and retaliation. Further information about the Commission is
available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.