Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Agency upholds Domino's beard ban Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 17:03:26 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;LOCAL ROUNDUP;MARYLAND \HD Agency upholds Domino's beard ban Domino's Pizza can legally refuse to hire a bearded delivery man even if his religion requires him to wear a beard, a Maryland agency has ruled. The ban does not constitute religious discrimination because Domino's surveys indicated customers would rather buy their pizza from clean-shaven workers, the Maryland Human Relations Commission said. The recent ruling overturned an administrative law judge's decision that had found Prabhjot S. Kohli, a Sikh, had been discriminated against and deserved a job offer at the pizza chain and more than $5,000 in back pay. State law requires employers to make accommodations for their workers' religions, but says companies don't have to bear "undue burdens." Domino's said studies show that more than 16 percent of its customers would "probably or definitely not buy Domino's pizza in the future" if they saw an employee with a beard, even if the beard was covered by a net. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM