UPS settles religious discrimination lawsuit for $4.9 million

On Behalf of | Jan 3, 2019 | Employment Law

The familiar brown-uniformed drivers dart in and out of their familiar brown-colored trucks, dropping off and picking up packages across Milwaukee. Like everyone else in the nation, UPS drivers have freedom of religion and the right to worship as they see fit.

Those rights were recently reaffirmed when UPS agreed to a $4.9 million settlement of a religious discrimination lawsuit. The company had been accused of discriminating against male job applicants who have beards or long hair in accordance with their religious beliefs.

UPS was also accused of refusing to make accommodations for those employees and unreasonably delaying responses to requests for accommodations for religious reasons.

UPS denied the allegations and said its multimillion settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing, saying it has chosen “to focus our energy on our hiring and promotion process, rather than lengthy and costly court proceedings.”

Part of UPS’s new “focus” is spelled out in the settlement which requires the company to simplify its religious accommodation request process and to train employees on the improved process. UPS also agreed to sit down with workers who filed claims to discuss problems, their goals and opportunities for advancement.

The $4.9 million will be divided among employees who filed related claims or charges, a news source stated.

This isn’t the first time UPS has settled a discrimination lawsuit. In 2017, it agreed to pay $2 million to a group of employees who alleged the company discriminated against them on the basis of disabilities. Back in 2013, it also settled a previous religious accommodation lawsuit filed by a Jehovah’s Witness worker who said he was fired after requesting a change in schedule to attend a religious service.

With the help of a skilled employment law attorney, you can stand up for your rights and religious beliefs. Contact the law offices of Alan C. Olson & Associates, s.c. for more information.

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