Disney in soup over no-turban mandate

[DarbyB]

The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest and largest Sikh-American civil rights and advocacy organization in the US has filed a class action suit against the Walt Disney World Company on behalf of Sukhbir Singh Channa.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ver_no-turban_mandate/articleshow/3124858.cms

So whatcha think??

 

[Sosai X]

It's not like if he was told to remove his turban when he was trying to enter the park as a paying guest. He should know that Disney, as a private corporation, has certain dress standards for its employees. Can he prove that Disney has discriminated against many other Sikhs, not just at WDW, but Company wide at all the other resorts? I doubt this case has much to stand on. These kinds of cases are always good for a headline or two, but they never go much beyond that. Besides, he is free to not work at Disney World. I am sure he can make twice as much managing a 7-Eleven or driving a taxi. And since seeing someone in a turban is almost expected at those jobs, everyone gets along. Nobody wins when you play the race card.

 

[remain seated please]

I am sure he can make twice as much managing a 7-Eleven or driving a taxi. And since seeing someone in a turban is almost expected at those jobs, everyone gets along. Nobody wins when you play the race card.

John Kerry, is that you? You forgot to mention working at a gas station.

BTW - LOVE your signature!

 

[rocketriter]

Does anyone know if orthodox Jewish employees are allowed to wear kipah's (the beanie-style hat sometimes called a yarmulke)? In my opinion, both should be allowed. How can Disney brag about national and ethnic differences in "It's a Small World" and then exclude entire ethnic classes of employees? And I do NOT buy the "they can work elsewhere" argument. The heart of non-discrimination is that they should not have to. That line of thinking drives straight to "if you don't like it, move to another country," which is reprehensible.

 

[Michael623]

Anybody want to bet an over/under how may post it will take to get this tread locked?

 

[Uncleromulus]

Don't recall ever seeing a Disney employee (while at work) wearing a yarmulke--and we've been going to WDW since 1975.

 

[mwehttam]

Using Orthodox Jews is not the best example. Because of their beliefs they do not live anywhere they do not have a strong and large community. They need to be within walking distance to a temple as they can not drive from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Last I looked there is not a strong orthodox community in Orlando so you will not see any employed by WDW. I work with several and know about their rules and such. My county has a strong population of orthodox and the more religious Hasidim.

 

[MJMcBride]

Anybody want to bet an over/under how may post it will take to get this tread locked?

16

 

[Kim&Chris]

Aren't the employees called Cast Members, basically because their duties are considered being "on stage"? Because of such, Disney is in a position to control the look of the cast member, just like any other show on any other stage.

 

[princesstinkerbelle]

Besides, he is free to not work at Disney World. I am sure he can make twice as much managing a 7-Eleven or driving a taxi.

seriously!?!?!?!?!?!? steriotyping does not get anywhere. i dont understand how people can function in a modern society with these types of beliefs. that generalization was completely uncalled for. you should be ashamed of your self. i am sorry if this seems like an attack, but it is unfair for any race, minority or not to be subject to steriotypes. your comments are extremely offensive.

 

[thejackattack21]

If I had to wager a bet, I wouldn't think the problem was with his turban, because Disney Cast members, as far as I know, are allowed to wear religious head gear (such as yarmulkes, although the above poster is right- there aren't that many religious Jewish CMs at WDW because there aren't that many in the area). I would think he probably did not want to shave his beard- and all male CM's must be clean-shaven.

Like someone else said, the company explicitly states that they are allowed to control your appearance. And, unfortunately, the "Disney Look" policy does inherently exclude certain groups of people.

I have mixed feelings about this policy, but it is the status quo.

 

[jheigl]

I think Disney has the right to do what it wants. I have no problem if someone wants/ needs to wear headgear anywhere they want, but having a visible piece of headgear, or anything else for that matter, would detract from the costumes that the CM's wear in their assigned land. I wouldn't really feel entrenched in a Tomorrowland theme, or Main Street USA, if a worker was wearing futuristic (Tomorrowland) or turn of the century (Main Street USA) clothing and a turban. I just think it draws more attention to itself and detracts from the theme. Or what if someone was working the Tower of Terror or Haunted Mansion and wore a turban? The theme would be ruined. I'm sorry, but don't Muslims believe in a simplified type of life anyways, and not all high tech thrill rides and such? Seems like just that alone would be against the religion.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Anybody want to bet an over/under how may post it will take to get this tread locked?

I'm going for 24.

 

[paulh]

Does anyone know if orthodox Jewish employees are allowed to wear kipah's (the beanie-style hat sometimes called a yarmulke)? In my opinion, both should be allowed. How can Disney brag about national and ethnic differences in "It's a Small World" and then exclude entire ethnic classes of employees? And I do NOT buy the "they can work elsewhere" argument. The heart of non-discrimination is that they should not have to. That line of thinking drives straight to "if you don't like it, move to another country," which is reprehensible.

loads of people walk round disney with the jewish cap on ,its just got ears attached to it
Paulh

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

loads of people walk round disney with the jewish cap on ,its just got ears attached to it

Never thought of it like that!!!

 

[E-Rock]

I don't see the big deal in this, they weren't saying he couldn't work there because of his religion they were saying he couldn't work there because he couldn't meet the dress code.

If your religion required you to dress a certain way every day (say like a toga or something) and did not permit you to be out of the toga when in public view would you be able to join the police force and wear your toga instead of the uniform?? No. Same thing here.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Aren't the employees called Cast Members, basically because their duties are considered being "on stage"? Because of such, Disney is in a position to control the look of the cast member, just like any other show on any other stage.

1) Yep.
2) They have been sued before for the same thing.
3) Disney has won every time.
4) In non-onstage jobs, people can wear religious dress.
5) When onstage, they must wear their costume.
6) Remember, it is NOT a uniform, it is a theatrical costume.

 

[sandym718]

Very interesting, and I agree with the others that it seems it is a simple dress code requirement.

I have actually experienced a similar issue, though not employment related. Our local rec pool that we join for the summer has a no-clothing allowed in the pool rool - swimsuits only. My friend's son burns VERY easily, she obviously uses sunscreen liberally, but at the beach, etc. he always wears a shirt. A few summers ago (their first at the pool), the lifeguard had her remove the shirt - told her he could only wear swim-suit type tops (like those surfers wear, etc.). OK, no problem, that's the rule. They state that it is for safety reasons, clothing can get caught on things, etc. All good. Not 2 days later, I'm at the pool and there are 2 women, I'm assuming Muslim, IN the water in FULL cover, only their eyes, hands and feet were visible, everything else was covered in black cloth. I was stunned, specifically because the lifeguards indicated the rule was for SAFETY reasons - how can an exemption be made then??? (Never mind the fact that I can't imagine how heavy that must have been for those ladies - yikes!!) I told my friend and let her decide on whether she wanted to follow up with aquatics staff. She bought a swim shirt and chose not to say anything. It was very interesting to me though, I'm sure the rec was worried about keeping everyone happy, not discriminating, etc., but it seems that if you use safety as the reason....

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I don't see the big deal in this, they weren't saying he couldn't work there because of his religion they were saying he couldn't work there because he couldn't meet the dress code.

If your religion required you to dress a certain way every day (say like a toga or something) and did not permit you to be out of the toga when in public view would you be able to join the police force and wear your toga instead of the uniform?? No. Same thing here.

Channa, a Sikh-American, had applied for a job with Disney in September 2006 but was told that he could not be hired unless he removed his religiously-mandated turban

Agreed. It says he "could not be hired unless he removed", not he was hired, and then later had a change in terms of employment. The dress codes and requirements are on the employment website for all to see. There is no discrimination involved here, and no reason for a lawsuit.

 

[caseymaureen]

The only problem I see is that Disney has many classes of cast members, one of which is the performers and they have their own union. Those are the people who perform in shows, parades, characters, etc. Awhile back there was argument about whether or not Kilimanjaro tour guides counted as performers due to their long script. Anyways, those people are hired to fit a role and therefore must look a certain way.

Everyone else, although called cast members and mostly considered "on stage" do not belong to the union and are not subject to the hiring practices that are normal for performers. Yes, there is a dress code but this should be not different than any other job in the world because you are not really performing. For example, an on stage cast member could be scrubbing toilets, frying chicken fingers, or directing people into parking spots. Those are jobs where, in my opinion, religious headware, whether a turban, a scarf, or a yamulke, would have no impact on the "show."

Also, keep in mind, that most of the "higher level" jobs at Disney are hired from within and onstage experience is valued. If the man cannot be hired for any onstage job that severely limits his chances of being hired for any behind the scenes higher level jobs. That's where they really may run into discrimination issues.