Monday, December 7, 2009

Sikh sues shuttle operator that wouldn't hire him

IndyStar.com
By Bruce C. Smith
Posted: December 3, 2009
Airport contractor won't let drivers work with a beard, turban

A Greenwood man whose Sikh faith requires him to wear a beard and turban is suing an airport shuttle company, claiming he was denied a job because of his religion.
In the 11-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana, Inderjit Singh claims Air Serv Corp., which provides shuttle bus services at airports across the country, rejected his application to be a driver because he wouldn't work without his turban and beard.
"I just want to work and earn a living, but Air Serv refused to give me a chance even after they understood that a turban and a beard are an integral part of my faith," Singh said in a statement from attorneys at California-based Public Justice.
The 25 million Sikhs in the world and 500,000 in the U.S. follow a peaceful religion, "but there have been threats and acts against them, confusing them with terrorists, since the events of September 11," said his local attorney, Kimberly D. Jeselskis.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated Singh's complaint and found that he "was denied employment because (the company) was unwilling to accommodate his need to wear a turban and beard." The EEOC finding is included in court filings.

Full Story: http://www.indystar.com/article/20091203/LOCAL0402/912030441/1001/NEWS

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