Faith

U.S. Gov’t Suing Taco Bell Franchise After Religious Man Fired for Refusing to Cut His Hair

North Carolina Taco Bell Franchise Sued by EEOC Over Firing Christopher Abbey for Not Cutting His HairFAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (The Blaze/AP) — The federal government is jumping into yet another religious freedom case. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing a North Carolina Taco Bell franchisee, claiming the company fired an employee whose religious beliefs prohibit him from cutting his hair.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday, the EEOC claims Family Foods Inc. illegally fired Christopher Abbey from a Fayetteville Taco Bell in April 2010. The complaint says Abbey was told to cut his hair or lose his job. Abbey belongs to an obscure religious group called the Nazirites (NAZZ’-uh-rites), whose members cite Old Testament passages as forbidding haircuts. FayObserver.com has more:

Abbey, now 27, has been a practicing Nazirite since he was 15 and has not cut his hair since then, the lawsuit says. He had worked for Family Foods [owner of Fayetteville's Taco Bell franchise] for more than six years before he was fired …for failure to follow the company’s grooming policy, the suit says.

The EEOC says firing Abbey over his religious beliefs is against the law. The agency wants policy changes at Family Foods along with back pay and damages for Abbey. The lawsuit asks for a trial jury and seeks to force Family Foods to stop discriminating against employees based on religion.

Aside from back pay, damages sought would include job search costs, fees incurred after Abbey was fired and compensation for humiliation, inconvenience and other similar losses resulting from the firing. The EEOC’s argument alleges a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which centers upon failing to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs. The LegalTimes writes:

The law requires employers to attempt to make reasonable accommodations to sincerely held religious beliefs of employees as long as doing so poses no undue hardship.

Back in June, The Blaze reported on two Muslim women who are suing the clothing company Abercrombie and Fitch over their religious choice to wear hijabs. One of the women claims she was fired for wearing the Islamic headscarf, while the other claims a local store refused to hire her because of it.

No one answered Family Food’s office phone Thursday afternoon. The company has 60 days to file a response to the lawsuit.

Comments (222)

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  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:50am

    While we are reading only the former employee’s side of the story, there is a statement that he had worked 6 years at this Taco Bell. As a former Human Resource Director, two areas jump out at me:

    1. Why the employer waited so long to take action.

    2. Food workers are required to cover their hair. What changed?

    I will be interesting to read the employer’s response. I know that I would make the case that his hair had growen too long to be contained. This would result in expousure to food handling regulations. The employer is obligated to comply with food handling regs. Any reasonable accomodation can’t result in the violation of law. If this former employee refused to cut his hair to the length that could be contained, the termination looks valid.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:58am

      Hair net?

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:38am

      Well if your religion states that you can’t cut your hair,that fine don’t cut your hair. But that can raise several sanitation issues when it comes to serving food to the public. And no food service industry business should be forced to take the liability for someone’s religious beliefs.
      How’s does that go again Congress shall make no law RESPECTING the establishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise there of. Well how does the Federal Government skirt around this It obivious a health code issue and not a religious one but to rule in favor of the plaintiff would be REPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT of his reliogion in lew of public safety and food service guide lines.

      Report Post »  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:38am

      Why a hair net ? If the women wear a hair net then ok, but what the hell ? Lets be fair here, if a woman doesn’t get fired for having long hair how can a man. They are citing grooming policies.. ?? Are they different for women ? I mean is a mans hair somehow more dirty than a womans ? Sorry folks, I have to agree with this guy…

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • Moocephus
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:47am

      hair bag…i agree accomodate without breaking the regs.

      Report Post » Moocephus  
    • BrotherWill
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:06am

      Not to mention they don’t require women to cut their hair.

      Report Post » BrotherWill  
    • stacie01872
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:36am

      My husband lost his job with the millwright union for voting republican. Do you suppose the government would step in and help him sue the union?

      Report Post »  
    • capitalismrocks
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:07am

      Agreed,

      If his hair was generally that length/style all along, then it should’ve been addressed earlier, although hair needs to be handled, if it was a female worker with long hair, then a hair net would be required, so this is no different.

      As for the Muslim women… if there is a dress code for a business and no head dress, head coverings are allowed, that is a company policy, if they don’t like it, then they should apply at a retailer that perhaps sells hats and allows head dress/coverings to be worn…

      Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:08am

      all for religous freedom, but don’t want hair in my food. can’t join the marines and expect to keep hair long over religous rules. Silly

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:15am

      Same questions here – why did they wait so long? New ownership? New management? Trying to refurbish/clean up their act/enforce policies that they had failed to enforce?

      Hair net? While he may indeed be wearing a net or a cap (which qualifies in most places as a “hair restraint”), if the hair length or style is the issue, I have to consider the business’ needs. If they want to create/display a clean-cut image, then long hair and facial piercings / facial tattoos do NOT fit in with that.

      It is a PRIVATE business.

      If you have a UNIQUE / UNUSUAL religious practice, the onus is upon you to make every effort to be acceptable to your employer.

      A job is not a RIGHT.

      Otherwise, we would all be communists…

      hmmm…

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Jack2011
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:24am

      Hair net?
      _______
      Does the guy have a long beard/mustache also?

      Report Post »  
    • sweathog1948
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:30am

      You are right about food servers required to cover their hair. I worked at Costco in Oregon in the bakery and men and women were regiered to wear a hair net. Even guys with beards had to wear hair covering over their beards or shave it off.

      Report Post »  
    • Rightsofman
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:52am

      DISMAYED – I have the same ques. What about the Health laws. I don‘t care who you pray to but hairs in my taco won’t suit me any more than mouse droppings!. Gov’t insanity prevails today.

      Report Post »  
    • cherigc
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 12:22pm

      Something tells me he REFUSED to wear a hair net… that being said, if Taco Bell closed their doors how many jobs would be lost?????? It seems like every day companies are being threatened by this OBAMA Big government ghestapo1!!!

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 1:00pm

      In the food industry this is a sanitation issues, Period.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • RabidPatriot
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 1:01pm

      If they hired him with long hair and he told them it was a religious belief of his to keep it long, then they need to be sued. The fact that he worked their for six years without it being an issue is going to be the fact that breaks the bank. That is just poor management practices. Usually when a business wants to fire someone but they lack just cause for termination, they try to find chippy regulation violations to invent a just cause case. I can imagine that a Taco Bell Manager is not exactly a human resources expert and is now going to cost his company lots of money in this suit.

      Report Post » RabidPatriot  
    • kchercmech
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Regarding the food handling regulations – I am a plumber and have to on occasion work in a food service building to repair the “coppers” and steam pipes. I am a 100% bald man – I have absolutely no hair or stubble. I have been for some 18 years. When I am in the facility I am forced by law to wear a head covering of some type to “keep hair from contaminating the food”.

      So when I read that someone who has not cut his hair for over a decade was terminated for his refusal to stay within federal food service sanitation guidelines I was intrigued. The thing that is lost in the article is that the employer is suing to reverse the bigotry against his religion – Taco Bell never said “you are fired because we do not like your religion”. How can these BS lawsuits even be filed? Where is the REGULATION for BS lawsuits that our Supreme Leader, the Immaculate Master Obama so often calls for in every other topic?

      Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 1:43pm

      It is a PRIVATE business. And a private business has every legal right to change their dress code, safety and / or sanitary requirements whenever they want to.

      The only way this could possibly be construed as discrimination is if
      the company did indeed make such a change in their policies and did not enforce those requirements with all employees.

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 3:29pm

      Midwestmother,
      Taco Bell like most fast food chains are franchises and have different managers with different styles and expectations from their employees. There are some fast food resturant that are very clean and well managed and other I wouldn’t let my dog eat at.

      Report Post »  
    • arx
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 3:30pm

      What if my religion prohibits someone from bathing? Should my employer’s customers have to deal with the stink? Also, a business has every right in the world to decide if an when to enforce any regulation they want to. There isn’t a statute of limitations. It’s there business to run as they see fit, and the govt and we should stay the hell out of it.

      Report Post » arx  
    • quiltlinda
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:20pm

      My thoughts exactly, it doesn’t seem that we have the whole story.

      Report Post »  
    • Iman Barak Hussein
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:20pm

      I agree with Taco Bell.
      Fire the dirty bastard.
      It does appear that he let his hair grow, and they tried for a long time to reason with the vermin, and finally were forced to throw his dirty hairy ass out as the customers were disgusted, and puking at the sight of the rodent.

      Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
    • mlcblog
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:57pm

      Thank you for a voice of reason.

      Report Post » mlcblog  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:33pm

      You’d think his hair would be super long by the beginning of his 6 years there…at what magical point did it suddenly become impossible to keep doing whatever had, apparently, made it manageable before?

      A picture of this guy would be very helpful, lol.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • woodyb
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:50pm

      “He had worked for Family Foods [owner of Fayetteville's Taco Bell franchise] for more than six years before he was fired”
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      He didn’t say he worked at TACO BELL, he said he worked for Family Foods.
      If he had a warehouse job, OK, but he should not be handling food at a fast food business!!!!!
      Where is the state Board of health?????

      Report Post »  
    • Soothsayer
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:26am

      If the guy has let his hair grow for twelve years he needs a CASTnet not a hairnet.
      How does one wash hair that long and how often??
      How many times during the day does he touch that maybe washed hair while handling food?
      Imagine- the hair will not fit in a hairnet, it falls around his face and he brushes it away not even thinking about it. ….brush…..lettuce…brush…. tomato….brush….hair….brush….sourcream….brush…
      Turns to get taco shells and hair rubs on already made tacos.
      I leave you all with these thoughts as I struggle not to vomit.

      Report Post »  
    • piper60
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:12am

      I’d be interested to find out if he tried to braid it, or contain it is such a way as to make it possible to get it into a hair net.

      Report Post » piper60  
    • Fastsam
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 5:16am

      The long hair don’t bother me but all those little bugs crawling in a Taco might have an effect on me eating there. This guy is just another Muslim in disguise.

      Report Post » Fastsam  
    • scjeff
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 2:08pm

      Maybe yet another “I have a six foot hair in my burrito” complaint came in.

      Report Post » scjeff  
    • JTMailman
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 4:21pm

      They probably waited this long because until now the length was managable. After a certain point managing a 12 year growth length had to be virtually impossible. How often did he wash it? How did it smell? Check this guy’s hair out to see what we may be dealing with: http://www.worldslongesthair.com/images/tvh.jpg

      Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:49am

    Too much hair… unsanitary… thus threatens the health of patrons. I’m going to not want to eat at Taco Bell if I see long haired dudes preparing my taco. Yuk! Imagine what kind of junk falls into that during food preparation.

    Report Post » jim  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:39am

      But it would be ok if a woman with long hair cooks your food, THEN you will be satisfied.. WOW !! Did you hear what what you just said ?

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • stacie01872
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:40am

      this is why they make hairnets. Anyone with long hair should be required to wear them. But the point has apparently been missed here. The government has no right to interfere…..

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:01am

      but it is okay for a long-haired woman to make your taco?

      I’m not taking sides, but your statement begs the question.

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:34am

    Makes one think atheist might be on to something 8>) Sick and tired of all this religious tolerance.

    Report Post »  
  • Socialism_Is_The_New_Black
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:21am

    OMFG! The statement above is based upon his side of the story. IT’S HIS COMPLAINT. You know how this game works. Probably some clueless affirmative-action obama fanboy at the EEOC on a fishing expedition thinking what this loser Christopher Abbey said is true. Have you ever dealt with some of the idiots in these parts of government? I honestly think the most inept work for the government.

    This is so ironic considering the attack on religion on all other fronts.

    Report Post »  
  • nptden
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:20am

    EEOC is the ‘intimidating’ commission of the New Marxist govt. It’s a scam for power. Like the ACLU, Diversity and Sensitivity Training. It’s just a vehicle to give a minority power over a majority. One big Socialist power move.

    Report Post » nptden  
  • hightide
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:14am

    Non of the governments business how a business decides to hire.

    Report Post »  
  • kyheadhunter
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:02am

    Mmmm, wonder what race he was?????

    Report Post »  
    • dwh320
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:13am

      In case some wonder… KYHEADHUNTER is a Progressive Socialist Democrat plant who visits conservative sites like the Blaze to insert little racist and hate speech remarks. They then use those remarks to proclaim how racist conservatives are and use them to try to lessen the honest debate.

      Just thought you might like to know…

      Report Post » dwh320  
    • kyheadhunter
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:59pm

      @DWH320. My friend. You should not comment on something you know nothing about. Did you not noticr the flag to the left of my name. What race are you amigo

      Report Post »  
  • DaveH
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:01am

    Who the hell is anyone in this commentary forum, yet alone the government, to say the way a business owner should run his business? It’s his business, it’s his property and capital at stake.

    Report Post »  
    • dwh320
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:17am

      The simple truth is if this were a Christian school teacher who refused to honor a secular event the government would care less if they lost their job. In fact the government would be the one demanding they were fired.

      Report Post » dwh320  
    • muhamadhater
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:14am

      AMEN 2 that DAVE!!!
      good point!

      Report Post » muhamadhater  
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:00am

    Then comes the County Health Inspector, to tell with resturant to have the employee cut his hair if he is going to work there. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn‘t one way or the other he’s gonna get sued.

    What we have here is failure to regulate (more).

    Had enough yet?

    Report Post » TwoLazy  
  • Bowmaster
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:56am

    Do women with long hair work there?
    Just ask him to use the same protocol that the company requires for them.
    There is more to this and I would suspect poor management is a factor, or perhaps some issues beyond just his hair.
    Is it a matter of hygiene or hair?
    If it’s hygiene, get him away from food.
    Taco Bell is gross enough without some unwashed fool serving it.
    These government Bozos need to get back in their cage, and out of our lives.

    Report Post » Bowmaster  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:57am

      My thoughts exactly…women with long hair have to wear a hair net, so he should have that option.

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:11am

      I do not have a problem with hair as long as it is not in my food. I sure both men and woman with long hair wear nets. The folks working for Taco Bell probably make enough to just barely survive and getting fired would mean living on the street. I hope the guy wins in court. Usually there more to the story tha what is reported by the lame stream media. I just don’t think we know all the facts.

      Report Post »  
  • OKMatt
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:54am

    Being a Nazarite or, set apart for Gods purpose, was for a specific, limited time.
    ( Samson is different. He was “Set Apart” for God by God this guy was not a Nazarite from birth)
    Being a Nazarite is NOT a religion.
    Nazarites are not to touch dead bodies. Unless the Taco Bell meat is kosher, it falls under the definition of dead body.

    Report Post »  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:35am

      Kosher meat also comes from dead animals

      Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:50pm

      That is a good point rrflyer. Kosher meat IS from a dead animal and if this guy works with dead animals then by his own admission, he doesn’t adhere to being a “Nazerite”, also they need to find out if he drinks wine or ANYTHING with grapes because that is a strict admonition not allowing them to eat or drink anything having to do with grapes.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
  • yougottabekidding
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:52am

    Most employers have a code of conduct and or dress code that employees sign, and working in the public domain a health code. If you have a belief system that doesn’t allow you to follow the rules then you do not belong there. There was prior knowledge of job requirements so he is not being fired over his religious beliefs. Find a job where people do not care how you dress or how scuzzy you are.

    Report Post »  
  • bigdaddyt46
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:47am

    long hair has nothing to do with this. it is descriminatation. women with long hair work in the food industry. the are told how to put up their hair when working ect. people just assume that you have long hair then your lazy, a bum a pot smoking hippy ect. i had long hair for 13 years i donated it to wigs for kids). businesess openly descriminate to long haired men. you want a hard worker??? hire a long hair. most(not all) will work twice as hard for you to prove to you the stereo type isn’t true.

    Report Post » bigdaddyt46  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:57am

      why is the govt tking over everything ?
      look at HR-1505
      http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1505&tab=summary
      these co sponsors are part of the Satanic take over of planet Earth
      I see good ole Congressmen Steve King is a spnsor
      http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1505

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • muhamadhater
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:19am

      @ TOWER I bet its got something 2 do with this…
      http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/

      Report Post » muhamadhater  
    • muhamadhater
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:22am

      Tho for the recored i am NOT a democrat or republican as I HATE polititions, for what they have done 2 this country!!! this might be worth looking into especially if your a land owner….
      http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/

      Report Post » muhamadhater  
    • ProgressivesAreEvil
      Posted on August 1, 2011 at 9:13pm

      http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nazirite
      A nazirite can groom his hair with his hand or scratch his head and needn’t be concerned if some hair falls out. However a nazirite cannot comb his hair since it is a near certainty to pull out some hair. A nazirite is not allowed to use a chemical depilatory that will remove hair.[12] A nazirite that recovers from Tzaraath, a skin disease described in Leviticus 14, is obligated to cut his hair despite being a nazirite.

      If a nazirite fails in fulfilling these three obligations there may be consequences. All or part of the person’s time as a nazirite may need to be repeated.

      Nazirites who shave their hair are obligated to redo the last 30 days of the nazirite period. However, if the nazirite drinks wine, the nazirite period continues as normal.
      ====
      Reading this, I don‘t see why they dude couldn’t cut his hair to keep his job and just “redo” the last 30 days of pot smoking wine drinking and any other Nazirite nonsense.

      Report Post » ProgressivesAreEvil  
  • louise
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:46am

    hmmm….
    I wonder if the government would sue the company I work for if I refused to work on Sundays..?

    Somehow I doubt it.

    Report Post » louise  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 6:18pm

      You work on the sabbath? Hope God forgives you. I’ll be praying.

      Report Post » SovereignSoul  
    • DianneM
      Posted on August 1, 2011 at 2:11pm

      I converted to the Catholic faith. I was raised Christian…spent some time in happy happy pagan land before returning to the fold as a Roman Catholic. I asked on several occasions to work afternoons and evenings on Sunday but it never made it into the office computer…so I went to the office with a book that said Catholics are to avoid if possible servile work on Sunday. I let my manager know I was serious about this, and that after much thought just being off in the evenings was not enough. I work Monday thru Saturday, God gets me on Sunday…My employer will have to settle for the other six days. Even then if it is against my faith I will not do it.

      Report Post »  
  • EnoughIsEnoughII
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:43am

    As with all government agency’s, the EEOC has moved far beyond it’s original mandate to represent workers with wage issues. Us small business owners are fast approaching our own “ Atlas Shrugged” moment where we will say “I’ve had enough” and cash out. Most of us can live comfortably with out the headaches of owning a business. If they think it’s that easy, let them do it……..

    Report Post »  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:46am

      Sorry. allowing the hair for 6 years and then demanding a haircut is a bit late. Should have done it before he was hired. Sorry Taco Ball, you blew it here. Settle.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • yougottabekidding
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:00am

      Armed Patriot
      What If!
      What if, this was an under achieving location and they were getting complaints about an employee that was unkempt and was driving away business (one EMPLOYEE that was causing, lets say you own it, to close and you are going to loose the $150,000 you invested) how would you feel? What would you do? Maybe it was a new manager that was inforcing the rules, maybe a new franchisee owner.( If you travel a road for a year and speed everyday, then get caught by a new cop on the force can you say it’s okay cause I did it for a year)
      Don’t know, but there are may possibilities and the story really leaves alot to be desired. Sorry about you and your family losing your money but he has to work there till your out of business

      Report Post »  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 8:45pm

      Although I do believe in the rights of the OWNER to run THEIR business as THEY see fit, do we believe in the rule of law or not. I agree this is a violation of the liberty of the OWNER to run their business as they see fit, but the law is “no religious discrimination”. If we cannot discriminate against muslims or transgendered peoples for their beliefs/actions… should we be able to discriminate against a Christian for their beliefs, especially after already being allowed to work there for years? Regardless of OUR own personal beliefs about freedom and liberty… and I really side with Taco Bell and all employers to employ who they want and fire who they want (I own my own small business), the law is the law. If we are forced to keep an employee who suddenly shows up in drag, we must also keep the employee who has been working for years with a pass. We need to change the laws or abide by them. That is the issue in this case. Its a losing situation however you look at it. Its hard to be right on either side.

      Protected categories…
      * Race or color
      * Ethnicity or national origin
      * Sex or gender
      * Pregnancy
      * Religion or creed
      * Political affiliation
      * Language abilities
      * Citizenship
      * Disability or medical condition
      * Age
      * Sexual orientation
      * Gender identity
      * Marital status
      * Military veteran status
      * Military discharge status or anticipated military deployment
      * Use of Tobacco Products

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:41am

    More to the story……………had not cut his hair since he was 15 years old…………..probably had a grooming and hygiene problem as well.

    A person has long hair and wants to work in the food industry? Seems like he was preparing his retirement – before he sought employment at that company.

    Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:50am

      Well if you religion states that you can’t cut your hair,that fine don’t cut your hair. But that can raise several sanitation issues when it comes to serving food to the public. And no food service industry business should be forced to take the liability for someone’s religious beliefs.
      How’s does that go again Congress shall make no law RESPECTING the establishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise there of. Well how does the Federal Government skirt around this It obivious a health code issue and not a religious one but to rule in favor of the plaintiff would be REPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT of his reliogion in lew of public safety and food service guide lines.

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:39am

    Get OUT of our lives, government! Crawl back into your own den of snakes.

    FOOD SAFETY is of concern here; not length of hair.

    Let the person/persons who own the franchise take care of their own business.

    Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:39am

    What if an employee’s religious beliefs do not allow him to touch or handle taco meat? What if they require him to smoke peyote at work operating a bulldozer? What if they require him to kill fellow employees in jihad? Do we accommodate these people as well?

    Nazatites are a Christian sect, one of my own, but we have a separation of church and state, and the state is not supposed to be enforcing any religious viewpoint on private people. In this case, they are trying to do so.

    And one might wonder why a liberal government would do such a thing, being god-hating and all, but they do this because they hate big business, and that is their true agenda. The religious freedom means nothing to them, it is merely a tool to attack big business.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:48am

      Sorry, there is no separation of Church and State. Congress shall make no laws establishing a religion or free exercise there of. Thats it.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • the hawk
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:52am

      Or muslum cab drivers (No alcohol in the cabs) Walmart cashiers (wont haldle pork products)…..
      I think theres been cases where employs have been told to put their crosses Under there clothes?

      Report Post »  
    • ProgressivesAreEvil
      Posted on August 1, 2011 at 9:24pm

      Actually from everything I’ve looked into Nazirites are Jews who took special oaths in respect to God so where did you get the info that they are a christian sect?

      Report Post » ProgressivesAreEvil  
  • UncommonValor-CommonVirtue
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:38am

    When is this intrusion into dictating how ‘my’ business is to be run going to stop?…… What has to happen to get government out of ‘my’ business? If I have a Hooter’s, I shouldn’t be forced to hire a guy as a server or some gal that has an “A” cup unless I choose. If I have to follow the food laws, then that should trump a religious preference.

    See excerpt: The law requires employers to attempt to make reasonable accommodations to sincerely held religious beliefs of employees as long as doing so poses no undue hardship.

    To me ‘reasonable’ was allowing him to grow his hair for over 6/7 years.

    Somehow a reset button needs pushed to save this great land.

    Report Post » UncommonValor-CommonVirtue  
  • keenwhiz
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:38am

    why would you hire someone who you think is not representing you/the company. You must always be aware of possible law suits against you. Sorry for Taco Bell…

    Report Post » keenwhiz  
    • DeDeVe
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 3:20pm

      I think his hair may have grown another 2-1/2 to 3 feet in 6 years, might make a difference. Yuk, split ends flying everywhere!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Carol Ingian
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:37am

    Sounds like he probably had long hair when they hired him.
    Could he have just worn a hair net?

    Report Post »  
    • bkfirvine
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:14am

      Absolutely not – that would infringe upon his right to “life, liberty, and (his) pursuit of happiness”!

      Report Post » bkfirvine  
  • NO-GODS-NO-MASTERS
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:35am

    First of all he’s in the food service industry and there are standards when handling food and that goes for fast food as well. Second if his hair was too long now what was it like when they hired him and if it was long then why did they hire him. Abbey is just another social parasite looking to make a quick buck. And the goverment is retarded for pursuing this case

    Report Post »  
    • UPSETVET
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:05am

      Let‘s see if I’ve got this strory right. This 27 year old guy has been a Nazerite since he was 15 so that must mean he hasn’t cut his hair for the past 12 years. He’;s been working at this Taco Bell for 6 years so his hair must have been long when he was hired. So, why does the Taco Bell owner or manager want him to cut his hair now or lose his job ? Doesn’t make sense. If long hair was a probem why was he hired ?

      Since the place of employment is a food service company, they have certain regulations for health and personal hygiene for sanitation purposes. I must be missing something here. The establishment should have enforced health standards but why wait 6 years to apply them to this employee ? I can see why the “religious” suit has been filed. There is evidence of some doubt as to why the employee was fired, long hair a health hazard or religious belief is a problem.

      Report Post »  
    • NO-GODS-NO-MASTERS
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:56am

      Considering this is in N.C he was probably shooting for a Lynyrd Skynyrd(or some other hairy hick musician) look rather than a religious look.

      Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:33am

    An employer can require his employees to look and act exactly as he prescribes. It is the employees choice to find employment elsewhere. There is no legal standing here. The EEOC is acting extra-constitutionally. (Probably following the lead of congress.)

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Arkonviox
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:33am

    He must be a liberal working for the Obama administration.

    Report Post »  
  • Ready2Rumble
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:30am

    What is more important: food safety or someone’s religious beliefs? Methinks that this is attempt at a shake-down of a corporation.

    Report Post » Ready2Rumble  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:42am

      Exactly, all they have to say is “His hair is unsanitary.”
      End of discussion.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
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