(Image source from: US Sikh gets $50)

A Sikh man got a compensation of $50,000 for being denied a job, only because he refused to shave his beard. In 2009 Gurpreet Kherha had filed a lawsuit against Tri-County Lexus alleging discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to reports, Kherha had applied for a position of a sales associate. He even qualified for the job but was not hired as he keeps a beard. Rights group Sikh Coalition and the EEOC had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Kherha.

"The car dealership had asked Kherha to shave his beard, but due to his religious beliefs he refused," said the EEOC. So he was refused the job. Apparently, Tri-County Lexus has a strict dress code policy that includes "no-beard" policy for sales staff as well as the administrative personnel. The lawsuit went in favour of Kherkha. The New Jersey car dealership company will now compensate monetarily to settle the lawsuit on religious discrimination.

Tri-County will have to take "remedial" measures that includes revising its policies that may cause employment discrimination and also to provide anti-discrimination training to its management and employees.

(Picture Source: harisingh.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)