Omar Khaleel applied for a job as a bus driver with the Overland Omnibus Corporation. His employer was worried that it might be dangerous to allow someone of Middle Eastern descent to drive a large bus, loaded with 160 gallons of fuel, into the heart of the downtown areas in the cities served by the company. Therefore, he asked Omar to submit a more stringent background check than was used for other bus drivers. Eight months later, the background check was completed and Omar was hired as a driver.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Omar has a basis for a claim under Title VII because he was treated differently than other bus drivers based on his Middle Eastern descent. Requesting a more stringent background check solely based on his national origin is discriminatory. The employer's concerns regarding safety could have been addressed with a uniform policy for background checks for all bus drivers without singling out one employee based on his background. The other options are incorrect because being prudent in hiring or being hired as a bus driver does not exclude one from being protected under Title VII, and difficulty in pronouncing his name is not sufficient grounds for a discrimination claim.

Omar Khaleel Applied for a Job as a Bus Driver