(CANTON, MI, 05/18/2022) – The Michigan chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a finding from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that a Muslim woman was discriminated against when she was wrongfully terminated in 2019 for asking for a delayed lunch break to accommodate her Ramadan fast.
In 2019, CAIR-MI filed an EEOC complaint on behalf of a Muslim woman working for GDI Integrated Facility Services, Inc. who contract to clean office buildings in several Michigan cities.
The complaint alleged that when the client requested that she be allowed to take her lunch break an hour later than normally scheduled, her supervisor made Islamophobic comments before sending her home for the day and then terminating her the following day.
SEE: CAIR-MI Files EEOC complaint for Muslim woman fired for requesting delayed lunch break during Ramadan
After conducting a nearly three-year-long investigation, the EEOC today issued its determination that the client was discriminated against when she was not provided a reasonable religious accommodation and that she was subjected to different terms and conditions of employment related to the actions of her supervisor when she made the request for a religious accommodation.
“We Hope that in light of the EEOC finding, that GDI Integrated Facility Services, Inc. will take the initiative to rectify the harm that was caused to the client as well as to work to ensure that no other employee suffers discrimination as a result of their faith,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director DAWUD WALID. “The client was terminated from her employment, but she wasn’t defeated by the discriminatory acts of her supervisor, instead she fought back by filing an EEOC complaint and she will continue to fight until she obtains justice.”
“Employees of all faiths have a right to a reasonable accommodation in the workplace,” said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy V. Doukoure. “The EEOC decision in this case today, reaffirms that right.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid (248) 842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney, Amy V. Doukoure (586) 943-8823 adoukoure@cair.com
