The owner of a hair salon is being sued for religious discrimination for refusing to hire a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf. Sarah Desrosiers, 32, says she turned down Bushra Noah as a junior stylist to maintain the image of her salon, which specialises in "urban, funky" cuts.
She told Miss Noah, 19, she needed her staff to display their hairstyles to the public. But the devout Muslim insisted that wearing her headscarf was essential to her beliefs.
Miss Noah, who has been rejected for 25 different hairdressing jobs after interviews, is suing Miss Desrosiers for more than £15,000 for injury to her feelings plus an unspecified sum for lost earnings.
I am getting sick of people crying "discrimination" because they don't get their own way all the time. religious discrimination is supposed to be about discrimination based on your religion, Not about the practicality of your religious practices in the work place. If your headscarf is essential to your beliefs then don't apply for a job in a hairdressers, it's as simple as that.
Dude, that was religious discrimination. It is part of her beliefs to wear that, but she can still be a hairdresser. Now, I agree that 15,000 pounds is a lot, but she should be able to get a job there. Now, another thing, where does it say she is suing for religious discrimination? It says "for injury to her feelings plus an unspecified sum for lost earnings." Nowhere does it say anything about religion. The main problem isn't discrimination, but people suing for stupid reasons.
ReplyDeleteReligious discrimination would be if she was told "i don't want muslims working here". She wasn't denied a job because of her religion, She was denied a job because her practices are not practical when working in a hairdressers. people aren't entitled to employment.
ReplyDeleteI was also under the impression that headscarf's weren't a requirement of islam.
Certain sects may require the use of it. Also, I said it was discrimination, but I actually take that back. It wasn't. Heck, she didn't even sue for discrimination. She sued for a stupid reason. Also, how is wearing a headpiece "not practical when working in a hairdressers?"
ReplyDeleteit's not practical because the person who owns the hairdressers wants her employee's hair to be visible, which is understandable, What with it being a hairdressers.
ReplyDeleteif you apply to work somewhere and aren't prepared to go along with the rules you don't get the job, it's that simple. You aren't allowed special treatment just because you happen to have an invisible friend. Rules are rules, they apply to everyone.
D, employers have a right to not hire anyone they don't think would be a good 'fit'. I'd never apply at a 'funky' place unless I was pretty sure I fit the look they were marketing. This girl definitely didn't fit the part. This woman is being sued because she was honest and naive and the plaintiff was angry not just at her. The nasty smirk she has in the photo makes me wonder what her real agenda is.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find amusing are muslims I know who wear head-scarves out of 'modesty', but those scarves are designer silk and can cost $500. Real modest...
D, employers have a right to not hire anyone they don't think would be a good 'fit'.
ReplyDeletethat actually depends. because equal opportunity employment says that
"Employers must reasonably accommodate employees' sincerely held religious practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employer. A reasonable religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow the employee to practice his religion. An employer might accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices by allowing: flexible scheduling, voluntary substitutions or swaps, job reassignments and lateral transfers, modification of grooming requirements and other workplace practices, policies and/or procedures."
http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html
So matt and anonymous, you do get to have special treatment. Hate it break it to ya.
But I do disagree with her suing. It was stupid reason to sue. It was like the people suing McDonalds for making their kids fat.
When you go to a hair salon, you look at the stylists' hair to see that they have a good sense of what works for them. If you see someone hiding their hair under a scarf, you doubt whether they really know what to do with hair, even if the scarf is for religious reasons.
ReplyDeleteThe owner of the salon was right and within her rights not to hire this stylist.
'If you see someone hiding their hair under a scarf, you doubt whether they really know what to do with hair'
ReplyDeleteI disagree. They still have to style their hair. Besides, working on your own hair and working with other people's are two TOTALLY different sets of skills.
OK, if Isee someone hiding their hair under a scarf, I doubt whether they really know what to do with hair.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, in a hair salon, hair is the selling point. The owner said she wanted her stylists to display their hairstyles to the public. A scarfed head is not an urban, funky cut.
What's next? Does the meat market have to hire a muslim butcher even though he refuses to cut up pork?
OK, if Isee someone hiding their hair under a scarf, I doubt whether they really know what to do with hair.
ReplyDeletedon't be judgmental Karen. They may do it for religious purposes.
Nevertheless, in a hair salon, hair is the selling point. The owner said she wanted her stylists to display their hairstyles to the public. A scarfed head is not an urban, funky cut.
Yes she did. However, I feel that it doesn't really matter who cuts my hair or what they look like as long as they do a good job. If she can do a good job, people will want her. I think that the hairdresser was discriminating, but didn't want to admit it. However, I still feel that the Muslim lady suing was wrong for suing. It was a stupid reason.
What's next? Does the meat market have to hire a muslim butcher even though he refuses to cut up pork?
Um... you do realize that Muslims only can't eat pork. They can still handle it.
"Um... you do realize that Muslims only can't eat pork. They can still handle it."
ReplyDeleteUm.. Do you realize that muslims working in Sainsbury's can, And do, refuse to handle alcohol? Even though they knew full well that Sainsbury's sold it when they applied for the job.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2558198.ece
if you don't mind someone in a head scarf cutting your hair i suggest you start a hairdressers and employ them. but when it comes to someone elses business they have the last word on the dress code, and if someones religion doesn't allow them to abide by that dress code they don't get the job.
people shouldn't get special privileges on the basis of something they have chosen to believe in.
Matt, why are you so angry at people for standing up for what they believe in? Is it so wrong to follow your beliefs? Any of them? Religious or otherwise?
ReplyDeletepeople shouldn't get special privileges on the basis of something they have chosen to believe in.
I will give you another exaggerated question.
A citizen believes in a war, so he goes into the army to fight. He comes back, injured or otherwise. Do you think that he should get a veteran's discount? Or should he just have to suck it up?
if you don't mind someone in a head scarf cutting your hair i suggest you start a hairdressers and employ them.
I would, however, hairdressing isn't my thing. I'm no good with hair, you see.
if someones religion doesn't allow them to abide by that dress code they don't get the job.
according to equal opportunity employment laws, yes it does.
Um.. Do you realize that muslims working in Sainsbury's can, And do, refuse to handle alcohol? Even though they knew full well that Sainsbury's sold it when they applied for the job.
I did not, because I am from America, so I wasn't aware of this 'incident.' However, from reading it, it doesn't appear that the company is angry. In fact, the only people who were upset were other muslims. I don't really understand the argument you were trying to make. That muslims are angry at other muslims? Woop-de-do. You made your point *applauds*
I am all for people standing up for what they believe in.. Especially business owners who have a dress code.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't owed a living by this hairdresser so she should stop acting as though she is.
I am all for people standing up for what they believe in.. Especially business owners who have a dress code.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't owed a living by this hairdresser so she should stop acting as though she is.
equal. opportunity. employment.
What is equal about it when she is exempt from rules others have to follow?
ReplyDeleteWhat is equal about it when she is exempt from rules others have to follow?
ReplyDeleteBecause they are prevented from being discriminated against, obviously. When you leave for war, you are promised your old job back. That is also totally unfair by your standards. They should have to apply like everyone else. Why should they get special treatment!!??
The woman chooses to wear a headscarf. if i chose to do something and refuse to stop people are allowed to deny me a job on the basis of it.
ReplyDeleteSee this is one of the main problems atheists have with religion. Your assumption is that it is automatically entitled to elevated respect because it's a religion. Give me one good reason why what someone "believes" should grant them special privileges.
"if i chose to do something and refuse to stop people are allowed to deny me a job on the basis of it."
ReplyDeletewhat exactly is the something? It always depends. If the something is killing people, yes they are allowed to stop you. If its wearing a scarf, then it's not a problem.
Give me one good reason why what someone "believes" should grant them special privileges.
soldiers who fight in wars they believe in. they should have the privilege of having their job secure.
In the end matt, you are making a mountain out of a molehill and just want to bash religious people.
yeah hi...everyone..this hairdressr
ReplyDeleteyeah rights she got...i hav no hair on my head...but according to my local muslim IMAN.she will meet 42 male virgins on her rise to heaven(dont know were that is yet).but my IMAN or OMAN the RIGHT HIGHEST PRIEST on muslum matters this lady is to be STONed to death for her troubles..the IMAN says al women in the nothern hemisphere will b stoned becuase of this little thing there is war if not nuclear war becuase of this ..there must b war...all jews die n 99% of westerners..according to my local IMAN...
I have been reading all the comments left and it seems to be turning into a slaging match at religion, so first I would like to clarify 1 point religion=way of life not specifically belief in divine being (ps not catholic/protistant or any of the the others but I do believe in a higher unity of the universe)(oh and that all people who ever they are have an equal ability to be good or bastards), secondly shes only been to 15 interviews, hah ive been to like 3 times more, i suck at interviews I don't have what their looking for not their faulk (well..) but wouldn't sue just keep trying.
ReplyDeleteBut the main point is that its this type of discrimination, people making a point of their differences even if their not their own, that is whats causing such difficulty for so many people. a difference is only noticable if you make it so, matt is right there shouldn't be one rule for one and another for another, d is right too if people don't have any real problem with something they shouldn't oppose it, hopefully one day we will all be able to relate to one another and we wont have rules. just a little helper though show of hands how many of you have a religion that says killing is good, or raping, how about theft? no well so we all agree on the important things then.