Muslim flight attendant suspended from work for refusing to serve alcohol

Galaxy · Sep 6, 2015

Sep 6, 2015

A Muslim flight attendant says she was suspended by ExpressJet for refusing to serve alcohol in accordance with her Islamic faith.

In a bid to get her job back, Charee Stanley filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday for the revocation of a reasonable religious accommodation.

Flight attendant investigated for photos on tarmac

She wants to do her job without serving alcohol in accordance with her Islamic faith -- just as she was doing before her suspension, her lawyer said.

"What this case comes down to is no one should have to choose between their career and religion and it's incumbent upon employers to provide a safe environment where employees can feel they can practice their religion freely," said Lena Masri, an attorney with Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Stanley, 40, started working for ExpressJet nearly three years ago. About two years ago she converted to Islam. This year she learned her faith prohibits her from not only consuming alcohol but serving it, too, Masri said.

She approached her supervisor on June 1 and was told to work out an arrangement for someone to fulfill passenger requests for alcohol.

"It was at the direction of the airlines that she began coordinating with the other flight attendant on duty so that when a passenger requested alcohol, the other flight attendant would accommodate that request," Masri said. "We know that this arrangement has worked beautifully and without incident and that it hasn't caused any undue burden on the airline. After all, it was the suggestion of the airline."

Flight attendants complained about 'menacing' images on aircraft

It seemed to be working out until another flight attendant filed a complaint against Stanley on August 2 claiming she was not fulfilling her duties by refusing to serve alcohol, Masri said. The employee complaint also said Stanley had a book with "foreign writings" and wore a headdress.

On August 25, the airline sent a letter to Stanley informing her that it was revoking its religious accommodation to exclude her from service of alcohol and placing her on administrative leave.

"They placed her on unpaid leave and they advised her that her employment may be terminated after 12 months," Masri said. "We are requesting that her employment be reinstated and the accommodation of her religious beliefs be reinstated as well."

A spokesman for ExpressJet declined to discuss Stanley's complaint.

"At ExpressJet, we embrace and respect the values of all of our team members. We are an equal opportunity employer with a long history of diversity in our workforce. As Ms. Stanley is an employee, we are not able to comment on her personnel matters," spokesman Jarek Beem said in an email.
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http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/05/travel/muslim-flight-attendant-feat/

gimme a break, man...

Eazy · Sep 7, 2015

Sep 7, 2015
you don't play around when someone needs alcohol on a flight, they should have fired her

Worm · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015
Her and Kim Davis should be locked in a room together

mdemaz · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015
why did they hire her lol

Cyreides · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015

mdemaz said

why did they hire her lol
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she converted to islam after

mdemaz · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015

Cyreides said

she converted to islam after
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hmm well i dunno what to tell ya

Cyreides · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015
hopefully this coupled with the whole Kim Davis thing will finally push us towards an end for all the bs religious exemptions in this country

Translucent · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015

Cyreides said

hopefully this coupled with the whole Kim Davis thing will finally push us towards an end for all the bs religious exemptions in this country
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Mimi · Sep 9, 2015

Sep 9, 2015
Good, I would be pissed if I had to work with her and pick up her slack.

PVRO · Sep 24, 2015

Sep 24, 2015

Cyreides said

hopefully this coupled with the whole Kim Davis thing will finally push us towards an end for all the bullshyt religious exemptions in this country
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This and the Kim Davis situation is completely different but yet sort of the same in a way. I can understand defying this due to your religion in this type of business but in Kim Davis' situation is completely different.
She was defying LAW. In the constitution it has stated that there is a separation of state and church (freedom of speech, religion, etc means exactly this) meaning that whatever the law says has no effect on your religion and what you believe, etc. So with that being said, if you hand out marriage licenses for a living but are Anti-Gay marriage, well sucks to s--- because if you deny people rights now, due to the supreme court ruling jail is what you get because you'll be breaking the law (trust me, it makes sense. The way the government works is hella weird)

Now my view on the Kim Davis situation is... that's the best justice p--- i'll ever see in a while

Cyreides · Sep 25, 2015

Sep 25, 2015

PVRO said

This and the Kim Davis situation is completely different but yet sort of the same in a way. I can understand defying this due to your religion in this type of business but in Kim Davis' situation is completely different.
She was defying LAW. In the constitution it has stated that there is a separation of state and church (freedom of speech, religion, etc means exactly this) meaning that whatever the law says has no effect on your religion and what you believe, etc. So with that being said, if you hand out marriage licenses for a living but are Anti-Gay marriage, well sucks to s--- because if you deny people rights now, due to the supreme court ruling jail is what you get because you'll be breaking the law (trust me, it makes sense. The way the government works is hella weird)

Now my view on the Kim Davis situation is... that's the best justice p*rn i'll ever see in a while
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People don't seem to understand that this country is not a religious one and cannot ever be if we go by the constitution.

PVRO · Sep 25, 2015

Sep 25, 2015

Cyreides said

People don't seem to understand that this country is not a religious one and cannot ever be if we go by the constitution.
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This is what i try to tell people but they dont listen..

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