Burger King settles with Christian teen, fired after seeking to wear skirt

January 23, 2013

Burger King has agreed to pay $25,000 to a Pentecostal teenage girl who was fired because she wished to a wear a long skirt instead of pants.

In August, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit on behalf of Ashanti McShan, who had been hired to work at a Burger King restaurant in Texas. “At the time of her interview for the job, Ms. McShan asked to wear a skirt instead of uniform pants as a religious accommodation,” the EEOC lawsuit stated. “Defendant assured her that she could wear a skirt to work. However, when she arrived at work for orientation, the store management informed Ms. McShan that she could not wear a skirt and that she had to leave the store … The result of the foregoing practices has been to deprive Ashanti McShan of equal employment opportunities because of her religious beliefs and observances as a Christian Pentecostal.”

As part of the settlement, Burger King’s restaurant managers in Texas will receive training “advising them of the requirements and prohibitions of the federal anti-discrimination laws with a special emphasis on religious discrimination.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Burger King Worker to Collect on Skirt Firing (Courthouse News Service)
• EEOC sues Burger King restaurant over treatment of Christian teen who sought to wear skirt (CWN, 8/27)