Former employee sues Raleigh contractor over time-off request

On Behalf of | Jan 3, 2020 | employment law, Firm News |

Business owners wouldn’t get very far without the quality employees who build their practices and gain them clients. But this universal truth has not stopped some employers from unfairly restricting their workers’ needs. When all else fails, it may be time to bring a lawsuit against a business and convince them to either do the right thing or pay the price for failing to do it.

A former employee who volunteered to help the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq is facing a similar situation when it comes to his faith. The man in question is a practicing Muslim who moved from Iraq to the United States and got a job with a Raleigh-based contractor in 2015. He then became a naturalized U.S. citizen in the same year that he asked for time off for a major Muslim holiday.

He was then reportedly dismissed from employment after this request. The chief executive officer replied that “we have our own holidays in this country,” showing a lack of sensitivity and demanding that these other holidays should be enough for the employee.

The former worker’s complaint states that he was subject to a series of discriminatory practices based on his religion. The suit also says he was dismissed for unrelated reasons even though his work performance had not previously been a problem.

A lawsuit regarding unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace may be the only way to restore a person’s career. An attorney can look at the details of a case and consult on the best way to use the court system to fix the situation.