Federal Agency Sues Chipotle for Religious Harassment and Retaliation
By Claire Rush, Associated Press/Report for America, September 30, 2023, 3:30 PM ET
A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against restaurant chain Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit stems from an incident in which a manager at a Chipotle in Kansas forcibly removed an employee’s hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the assistant manager repeatedly harassed the employee by persistently asking her to show him her hair, despite her refusals. The harassment escalated when he grabbed and partially removed her hijab. The EEOC’s complaint alleges that the manager’s actions were “offensive and incessant,” creating a hostile work environment based on religion.
Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer, stated that the company has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and has terminated the employee involved in the incident. She also emphasized that employees are encouraged to report concerns through an anonymous hotline.
The harassment began in July 2021, with the manager continuously pressuring the 19-year-old employee to remove her hijab. According to the complaint, he demanded to see her hair at least 10 times over the course of a month, despite her religious objections.
The employee reported her discomfort to another supervisor, but no action was taken against the manager. In August 2021, during closing, the manager allegedly forcefully pulled her hijab, leading her to give her two weeks’ notice. The complaint further alleges that Chipotle did not schedule her for any shifts during her notice period, unlike other non-Muslim employees who submitted their notice.
The EEOC lawsuit argues that Chipotle violated federal civil rights laws that protect employees from discrimination based on religion, race, ethnicity, sex, and national origin. The agency is seeking policy changes at Chipotle to ensure equal employment opportunities for employees of all religions, as well as damages for the employee involved in the incident.
The lawsuit against Chipotle serves as a reminder of the importance of creating inclusive work environments that respect employees’ religious beliefs and practices. Companies must take proactive steps to prevent and address incidents of religious harassment and discrimination to foster a culture of diversity and fairness.