Seminar%204 Student - MHR 523 PDF

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MHR 523 Introduction to Human Resources Management – Seminar 4 AIRPORT SCREENER SUSPENDED FOR ALTERING UNIFORM TO COMPLY WITH HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Halima Muse, 33, a practising Muslim, immigrated to Canada from Somalia and had been employed for six years with Garda, a company contracted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to screen passengers and their luggage at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. At the airport, security employees are provided a standard uniform. Female employees had a choice of wearing either a knee-length skirt or slacks. Muse had been wearing slacks, because knee-length skirts violate the modesty standards of her religion. However, due to her Islamic beliefs she also felt uncomfortable exposing the shape of her body by wearing slacks and always wore a blazer to cover her hips. Finally, she asked her employer if she could wear a non-standard loose-fitting skirt that she had made of similar colour and fabric. She received approval to wear the ankle-length skirt; however, several months later, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority insisted that she wear one of the two standard uniforms, that is, slacks or knee-length skirt. When she refused to give up the anklelength skirt she was suspended. Although she filed a grievance with her union, Teamsters 847, her employer advised her that CATSA, not Garda, controlled the policy related to uniforms. CATSA defended its strict policy regarding uniforms on the grounds that maintaining a professional image in airport security was very important. Questions 1.

By offering Muse a choice of slacks or a knee-length skirt do you feel CATSA provided a reasonable accommodation to this employee? Justify your answer.

2.

Because Muse agreed to wear slacks for several years before telling her employer about her concerns should there be any reduced duty on her employer or CATSA to accommodate? Explain.

3.

If you had been Muse's supervisor, how would you have handled her request? Is there anything you would have done differently?

SOURCES: Jeffrey R. Smith, “Airport Screener Suspended for Wearing Long Skirt,” Canadian HR Reporter, December 17, 2007, pp. 1, 11; “Suspended Muslim Airport Screener Offered New Job,” The Globe and Mail, November 22, 2007, p. A17; and John Goddard, “Guard to Get Back Pay Pending Uniform Review: Airport Screener Will Do Alternative Work During Uniform Assessment,” Toronto Star, November 21, 2007, p. A14. FROM: Steen, S.L., Noe, R.A., Hollenbeck, J.R., Gerhart, B. Wright, P. (2013) HRM, Canadian 3rd Edition, p. 57-58, McGraw-Hill...