Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

After 7 yrs Disney grants Sikh religious accommodation at work
Niti Central, niticentral.com ^ | July 10, 2015 | Yoshita Singh, Press Trust of India

Posted on 07/09/2015 4:16:11 PM PDT by Jyotishi

New York: A Sikh-American employee at the Walt Disney World in Florida, who was barred from working in view of the guests due his religious appearance, for seven years, has achieved a significant victory, with the company agreeing to end the segregation and accommodate his religious beliefs.

Gurdit Singh had been employed as a mail carrier at the popular amusement park in 2008 but was told by his Disney bosses that he would not be permitted to run mail routes visible to park guests because his religious appearance "violated" the company's 'Look Policy,' according to the rights group Sikh Coalition.

In a letter to Disney, Sikh Coalition and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the "segregation" relegated Singh to a mail route that had a greater workload than other routes.

It created "animosity" among his co-workers because he could not assist in operating other routes and it precluded his opportunities for professional advancement.

Following the intervention by Sikh Coalition and ACLU, Walt Disney World finally reversed its decision and granted Singh a religious accommodation.

Singh will no longer be kept hidden from public view of Disney visitors because of his turban and beard, and he will be permitted to run all mail routes just like every other mail carrier, Sikh Coalition said.

"For seven years, Singh was restricted to delivering mail to Disney's corporate offices ? a mail route that shielded him from areas where Disney guests congregate," it said, adding, all of Singh's co-workers rotated their routes every three weeks and delivered mail throughout the park.

Singh had contacted the Coalition to help him assert his right to be free of discrimination in the workplace.

Earlier this year, the Sikh Coalition partnered with the ACLU and sent a "forceful demand letter" to Disney explaining that its treatment of Singh violated the law.

"No one should have to face daily humiliation because of his or her religious beliefs.

I am also grateful to Disney and hope this decision opens the door for other Sikhs and religious minorities who wish to work for this company," he said in a statement.

The ACLU said, "Because Disney is a major multinational corporation, its decision to grant Singh a religious accommodation is an important step forward in achieving workplace equality for Sikhs and others of minority faiths, and Disney should be applauded."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aclu; disney; religion; sikh
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

1 posted on 07/09/2015 4:16:12 PM PDT by Jyotishi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

More ugly activist multiculturalism, this isn’t 1960 America anymore.


2 posted on 07/09/2015 4:21:14 PM PDT by ansel12 (libertarians have always been for gay marriage and polygamy, gay Scout leaders, gay military.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

I don’t mind sikhs. They don’t want to kill me like muslims do.


3 posted on 07/09/2015 4:28:17 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie ( A system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi
"No one should have to face daily humiliation because of his or her religious beliefs.....unless they refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple"

there. fixed it. /s

4 posted on 07/09/2015 4:33:25 PM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie
I don’t mind sikhs. They don’t want to kill me like muslims do.

I don't mind Sikhs. They want to kill Muslims like I do.

5 posted on 07/09/2015 4:34:41 PM PDT by Rodamala
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie
Not you anyway.


6 posted on 07/09/2015 4:37:09 PM PDT by x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Yep. And the negroes are even allowed to use the same bathrooms and water fountains as us. What’s the world coming to?


7 posted on 07/09/2015 4:53:27 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: bigdaddy45

What does your racism have to do with this topic or my posts?


8 posted on 07/09/2015 5:02:24 PM PDT by ansel12 (libertarians have always been for gay marriage and polygamy, gay Scout leaders, gay military.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Can’t wait to see a full burka Cinderella!


9 posted on 07/09/2015 5:07:24 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi
Wasn't it Sikhs who assassinated Indira Ghandi? Don't Sikh men carry huge swords a their side?
10 posted on 07/09/2015 5:27:33 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Secession;It's The Only Answer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

You’re the one longing for 1960, not me. Can’t take the bad with the good?


11 posted on 07/09/2015 5:28:04 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bigdaddy45

What’s wrong with longing for 1960 ?


12 posted on 07/09/2015 5:31:10 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

Are you going to tell us how much you hate America before you liberals could order image based businesses to let employees wear turbans and beards and burkas?

Is that the theme for you guys this month, America sucked before liberalism?


13 posted on 07/09/2015 5:38:23 PM PDT by ansel12 (libertarians have always been for gay marriage and polygamy, gay Scout leaders, gay military.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi
Sorry, but I am all against the law going against employers who don't want religious garb of any kind while on the job.

You are there to work for your employer and wear what your employer wants you to wear, period. If you can't do that without a yarmulke or a cross or a turban or a head scarf, find work elsewhere.

It's their place of business and you accept the terms, or not.

14 posted on 07/09/2015 5:38:35 PM PDT by Lizavetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

I don’t think you meant to post that to me.


15 posted on 07/09/2015 5:40:39 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: bigdaddy45

Are you going to tell us how much you hate America before you liberals could order image based businesses to let employees wear turbans and beards and burkas?

Is that the theme for you guys this month, America sucked before liberalism?


16 posted on 07/09/2015 5:40:40 PM PDT by ansel12 (libertarians have always been for gay marriage and polygamy, gay Scout leaders, gay military.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

LOL, I didn’t, I popped back on the thread with one eye, and clicked your post without catching the error.


17 posted on 07/09/2015 5:42:16 PM PDT by ansel12 (libertarians have always been for gay marriage and polygamy, gay Scout leaders, gay military.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: 2banana
"Can’t wait to see a full burka Cinderella!"

Best I could find in a pinch:


18 posted on 07/09/2015 5:51:12 PM PDT by PLMerite ("The issue is never the issue. The issue is the Revolution.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Jyotishi

Makes sense because Disney is phasing out American workers.


19 posted on 07/09/2015 6:28:57 PM PDT by lormand (Inside every liberal is a dung slinging monkey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

I’m a liberal now? Extrapolate much?


20 posted on 07/09/2015 8:49:34 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson