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September 26, 2002
Union Of Orthodox Jewish Congregations Praises Federal Agency For Bringing
Lawsuit To Combat Employment Discrimination Against Sabbath Observer
Today,
the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, through its
Institute for Public Affairs, praised the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for filing a religious discrimination
lawsuit yesterday in federal court in New York against The French
Connection, an international clothing retail chain.
The suit, filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleges
that The French Connection rescinded an offer of employment it made to Ms.
Amanda Nathan to work as a buyer for the company once she informed the
company that she was a sabbath observant Orthodox Jew. Ms. Nathan informed
the company that she would need to leave work early on Friday afternoons
in the winter months in order to begin sabbath observance by sunset, but
would be happy to work extra hours on other days of the week to make up
the time and complete her work. Through the suit, the EEOC is seeking
injunctive relief, back pay as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
Nathan Diament, director for the Union’s Institute, issued the following
statement:
The Orthodox Jewish community deeply appreciates the action taken today by
the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to combat religious
discrimination in the workplace, particularly with regard to Jewish
sabbath observers and to ensure that members of our community, like all
other Americans, cannot be forced to choose between career and conscience.
Along with a broad coalition of America’s religious communities, the
Orthodox Union continues to work to guarantee the accommodation of
religious observance by employers. Earlier this month, Governor Pataki
signed a law expanding New York State’s protection of workplace
accommodation rights. And, we continue to work with friends in the U.S.
Congress to secure the passage of the bipartisan Workplace Religious
Freedom Act which will protect people like Amanda Nathan throughout the
country. Ms. Nathan’s situation shows the need for this legislation and we
hope Congress will enact it in short order.
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