An employee of a Chicken Express restaurant in Texas alleges she encountered religious discrimination when management sent her home for refusing to take off her hijab, a headscarf worn by many Muslim women.Stefanie Coleman, 22, arrived at work on Monday wearing a hijab for the first time. As a recent convert to Islam, she claimed she was delighted to don the Islamic covering and optimistic that her coworkers would be welcoming.
Feeling Disrespected at Chicken Express
But the single mom was left feeling “disrespected, bewildered and deeply outraged” when her manager, citing dress code rules, told her she could not wear the hijab at work.Once I clocked in, the manager stated ‘Take off anything that doesn’t relate Chicken Express,’ which I knew he was talking about my hijab,Coleman told CNN yt1s.
“So I didn’t respond. I just went to the back and took off my jacket and purse. Five minutes later, he called me into the office, informing me that I have to take it off because it’s not a part of the work uniform,” she added.Coleman has worked at the fast-food establishment in Saginaw, a suburb of Fort Worth, for three months. She filmed the argument with the manager in two videos, which she put on Twitter.
Profession Nothing to do With Religion
Your profession has absolutely nothing to do with religion. In one of the films, the manager expresses his thoughts.A certain uniform is required for the work. The hijab is not part of the uniform; thus, as a paid employee, you are not permitted to do so. In another video, he is heard quoting from the Chicken Express employee handbook and saying something similar Ytml3.
According to the network, a copy of the manual obtained by CNN does not make any mention of the headscarf or any other religious garb. Specifically stated is the restriction on using “only the official Chicken Express hats or visors.Most Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab feel it to be a religious obligation instead of wearing a hat, which can be taken off.
Attorney Representing
They do not remove it while they are in the presence of men who are not members of their close family.On camera, the manager says he would consult with two people, who Coleman identifies as another manager and an area coach, before deciding on what to do about the situation. Coleman was eventually sent back home.
Chicken Express Franchisee
An attorney representing the Chicken Express franchisee who owns the restaurant where Coleman works, Rhett Warren, told CNN that Coleman’s dismissal was a mistake and that she does not face discrimination because she decides to wear a headscarf or because she is a Muslim.The manager’s decision to send Ms Coleman home because she was wearing a headscarf was based on a lack of training,” Warren explained.
In his stringent interpretation of corporate rules, the manager did not allow deviations from the normal staff uniform, and he did not take religious liberty into mind, which was regrettable.
According to her supervisor, Warren, Coleman was compensated for the hours she would have worked on Monday if she had not been sent home.
Last Thought
Warren noted that the business aims to update its dress policy and improve training to allow other employees to wear religious apparel.Coleman returned to work on Tuesday after the store owner apologized. She said she was nevertheless harassed by employees who disapproved of her hijab choice.Stefanie consented to come to work but couldn’t stay because of the hostile environment,” said Faizan Syed, executive director of CAIR in Texas. The civil rights organization represents Coleman.
