Susann, 41, had sued AT&T unit Southwestern Bell for a pattern of offensive and discriminatory conduct by supervisors following her conversion to Islam in 2005. This was after six years of service as a network technician for the company. Susann alleged that when she started wearing a head scarf and attending Friday prayers at mosques, her colleagues and manager started calling her names like “terrorist” and told her that she would be going to hell.
On top of verbal abuses, a manager repeatedly insisted that she remove her hijab, insulted her for wearing the religious head scarf and once grabbed her physically and tried to rip it off her head. Susann complained to the human resources department of the company and also filed a formal complaint alleging discrimination before the EEOC following which she was fired.
Marty Richter, AT & T spokesman said that the company would appeal the decision. He said, “AT&T is a nationally recognized leader in workforce diversity and inclusion, something in which we take great pride. We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal.”
Susann’s lawyer agreed that the company has “an excellent written policy” and that “If they had just followed the policy none of this would have happened.”
The jury found that a “hostile work environment” occurred following the plaintiff’s religious conversion from Christianity to Islam. The judge’s order in the matter was issued on Friday.
Amy Coopman the lawyer of Bashir said that the judgment would have little effect on AT & T which is wealthy global corporation, but it was ‘monumental’ for her client.
This is a sad news. It cannot be expected from AT&T.
I wonder how much the usa government should pay to the American Muslims and to the Muslims passed through usa check points!? We heard that too much hassle faced by Muslims there.
If she wasn’t white of European dissent she wouldn’t get a dime, thousands of ordinary Muslims either working or not are suffering silently, and even keep low profile to avoid more discrimination.
So what is the lesson? Stand up for your rights and make noise. SQUEEKING WHEELS GET THE OIL!!!
Sounds like she had a good employment discrimination lawyer who comes across as very reasonable in saying that the company has good policies but failed to follow them. That’s the unfortunate thing — most employers and employees want to do the right thing and treat co-workers well. That said, I have been working employment discrimination cases for years and this was not a good fact pattern and clearly the jury agreed.