Question

Cara has been employed by Dalton Department Store for 10 years as a sales associate in the women's department.After she became a Muslim,she decided to wear a burka,a full-body cloak,with a small mesh-like screen to see through.When she reported for work wearing burka,her employer told her that she was in violation of the company's dress policy.Cara was told to change her clothes or go home.Cara refused to change her clothes and left.She was contacted by her employer later that day and was told that she could continue to work for the company in the stock room at no reduction in pay.

A)Dalton Department Store has no liability under Title VII because Cara was offered a reasonable accommodation

B)Cara has an actionable claim under Title VII because she was demoted and adverse employment actions are not considered reasonable accommodations.

C)Dalton Department Store is liable for religious discrimination because there was no evidence that their customers would have been offended by Cara's clothing.

D)Cara does not have an actionable claim for religious discrimination because she was aware of the grooming policy before she decided to follow the Muslim religion.

Answer 1

A) Dalton Department Store has no liability under Title VII because Cara was offered a reasonable accommodation

Step-by-step explanation:

Several laws protect people from religious discrimination in the US, both in public or at their workplace. Title VII protects people against discrimination at work and the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution protects them at other public places.

The issue here is that Cara works selling women's clothes and covering her face is against the company's dress code for that area. Since the company offered her work at another area where the dress code was not enforced, she had the chance to keep working without any problems. If she refuses that offer, then she cannot claim discrimination because a fair alternative.

Companies have the right to enforce strict dress codes if is necessary due to the nature of the business. For example, how could Cara sell makeup with her face covered? It's impossible for her to do it.

Sometimes companies are allowed to select certain types of employees for specific tasks, e.g. firefighters must be fit, so obese candidates will be rejected. It is not discrimination since it is necessary for a firefighter to be fit in order to carry out their normal tasks.