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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR-NY, Lloyd Patel Law Firm Secure $50K Settlement for Fired Muslim Worker
Newly-arrived immigrant fired from first U.S. job, forced to pray outdoors in middle of winter

(NEW YORK, NY, 3/22/18) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and Lloyd Patel LLP, a leading employee-side labor and employment firm, today announced a $50,000 settlement with a Queens company for wrongfully terminating a Muslim man.

The 29-year-old South Asian green card holder, who prefers to remain anonymous, was wrongfully fired in 2017 simply for asking to pray. As a newly-arrived immigrant, this was the man's first job in the United States, but he worked less than a week before being terminated.

The man's supervisor reacted negatively to the revelation he was Muslim and became increasingly hostile once they learned about his faith. In his short time at the company, the man's supervisor reportedly began to target him, sabotaging his work assignments and making derogatory statements about his faith.

This same supervisor refused to let him spend a few minutes a day praying in an empty part of the office, forcing him to pray in a nearby park in the dead of winter. In addition to providing compensation for lost wages and emotional damages, the employer is also required to conduct non-discrimination training for both management and employees.

"No New Yorker should be forced into the cold, or fired from work, simply for wanting to pray," said CAIR-NY Legal Director Albert Fox Cahn. "Our laws are clear: New Yorkers have the right to reasonable accommodations to practice their faith. You don't have to choose between your religion and your job. This settlement helps send a signal to employers that Muslim New Yorkers will not accept workplace discrimination or harassment. Our laws protect the right to take reasonable breaks, to pray, to wear the hijab, and to keep a beard."

"Our client made the difficult and courageous decision to take a stand against unlawful religious discrimination by taking legal action, and we could not be more proud to have represented him," said Lloyd Patel LLP Partner Erin Lloyd. "We are pleased with the monetary award for our client and that future employees at this company will be made aware of their legal rights and protections.". . .

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