Massachusetts Court Decision Protecting an Employee’s Religious Freedom

Posted on December 12, 2008 In Blog

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, applauds the recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision defending the rights of religiously observant employees. In the case, Bobby T. Brown v. F.L. Roberts & Co. Inc., the court overturned a prior decision by a trial court that had allowed Mr. Brown to be barred from customer contact for failure to shave a beard, something against his religious beliefs as a Rastafarian.

Nathan J. Diament, Director of Public Policy stated:

“Bigotry and fear have no place in the American workplace and we are grateful this Court put an end to it in this case. All religiously observant employees in Massachusetts breathe easier today knowing the Court has defended their constitutional rights.”