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Disney sued by
Sikh over worker dress code
WSN Bureau
 HOUSTON:
A turban-wearing Sikh who was allegedly sacked by Walt Disney World
for lacking the "Disney look" has sued the company for $1 million
claiming he was discriminated against because of his religion.
Sukhbir Channa, 24,
a practicing Sikh who wears a turban and a beard, filed the suit
through his Attorney Matt Sarelson in Hillsborough County Circuit
Court in Florida.
In his suit, Channa
said as a student University of South Florida he was hired in
October 2005 as a seasonal college musician, which requires parade
and atmospheric performances, the Orlando Business Journal reported.
In his performances,
Channa said he wore a toy soldier hat to cover his head. In the
atmospheric performances, he was initially allowed to wear a red
turban in place of the red beret the other musicians wore.
However, even after
rehearsing for both jobs, the lawsuit claimed Channa was removed
from the atmospheric position because he lacked the "Disney look"
and was singled out to perform menial tasks for his supervisor.
Channa complained to
human resources and was told he was never hired for the atmospheric
position and no corrective action was ever taken, the media
reported.
He was terminated in
early 2006 for not having the "Disney look," the suit said, and when
he applied to be rehired in October 2006, he was denied for the same
reason.
According to the
suit, all of Channa's former co-workers who wanted to be rehired got
the job.
The suit alleged that Disney violated the Florida Civil Rights Act
and requested damages of at least $ 1 million. It asked the court to
enjoin Disney from discriminating against Sikh employees and
jobseekers.
A Disney spokeswoman
said the company is reviewing the lawsuit, the media reported.
18
June,
2008
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