UPS facing lawsuit over religious rights of its employees

Federal regulators in the United States announced this week that they are suing the United Parcel Service, the country’s largest private package delivery service, for violating its employees’ religious rights.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges in its lawsuit that the company declined to hire applicants and promote employees because their religious dress practices conflicted with the company’s uniform policy.

The UPS uniform policy requires supervisors and employees who regularly come in contact with customers to shave their beards, according to the EEOC’s complaint. Male employees in the same roles also are barred from growing their hair longer than collar-length.

“UPS has persistently enforced its appearance policy even when that policy conflicts with the religious beliefs of its applicants and employees,” said Robert Rose, the regional attorney for EEOC’s New York district office. “No person should be forced to choose between their religion and a paycheque, and EEOC will seek to put an end to that long-standing practice at UPS.”

UPS did not respond to a request from The Washington Post for a copy of its uniform policy. It said in a statement that it doesn’t discriminate against its workers.

Regulators are seeking an injunction against UPS, which employs more than 300,000 people nationwide, and is seeking back pay and damages for affected employees and applicants.

UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said the company works with employees who request accommodations for their religious customs such as how they dress and time off needed for prayer.

“UPS respects religious differences and is confident in the legality of its employment practices,” Gaut said.