Saddam works as a desk clerk for the So Suite Hotel Company.The company has rules for its employees,such as being on time for work,taking bathroom breaks on a specific schedule and observing certain dress codes,including the requirement that male employees be clean shaven.Saddam has had some difficulties following the rules.He has been late and his excuses have not been valid.He has taken bathroom breaks without following the schedule.Now Saddam shows up for work with a three day growth of beard.His manager tells him that he is in violation of the grooming policy.Saddam says that he has a new religious belief and it requires that he grow a beard.The manager tells him that he is tired of Saddam not following the rules and having lame excises.Saddam is suspended from work.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees' sincerely held religious beliefs, they are also allowed to challenge the sincerity of an employee's belief if there is evidence that the employee is not acting in good faith or has a history of violating workplace rules. In this situation, the manager has evidence that Saddam has not followed workplace rules in the past and has offered lame excuses, so it is reasonable for the manager to question the sincerity of Saddam's claim that he must grow a beard for religious reasons. Therefore, So Suite is within its rights to challenge the sincerity of Saddam's belief and enforce its grooming policy.

Saddam Works as a Desk Clerk for the So Suite