A Muslim woman who worked at a McDonald’s franchise is suing her former employers over claims of religious discrimination and sexual harassment. When the woman converted to Islam in 2017, she started wearing a hijab and requested that she be given time to pray throughout the day in accordance with her religion. While her manager initially allowed her request, the lawsuit alleges that she was instructed to pray in a dirty room and eventually barred from praying altogether.
The lawsuit also alleges that the woman was subjected to sexual harassment by her management, who asked her prying questions about her sex life. The woman finally resigned in 2018. With the support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, the woman brought a lawsuit against the company in 2020. The management company has disputed the allegations, but says that it takes the lawsuit seriously and will act accordingly to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws.
According to CAIR, an increasing number of Muslims have reported discrimination in the workplace. The woman held a news conference with her attorneys in which she stated that she hopes her lawsuit will help other Muslim women who face similar challenges in the workplace.
What to do in situations relating to workplace discrimination
An employee who feels like they’ve been the victim of workplace discrimination due to sex, race, religion, or another classification that’s protected by law may wish to speak with an attorney.
An attorney can help the client collect evidence, understand the extent of the possible violation, prepare a court case, negotiate a settlement with the other party, and launch a lawsuit if necessary. A lawyer can deal with cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and other issues related to the client’s race, sex, age, or religion.