Hairdresser sued for refusing to hire Muslim woman in a head scarf

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:24 am

NewsHairdresser sued for refusing to hire Muslim woman in a headscarf

The owner of a hair salon is being sued for religious discrimination for refusing to hire a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf.

Sarah Desrosiers, 32, says she turned down Bushra Noah as a junior stylist to maintain the image of her salon, which specialises in "urban, funky" cuts.

She told Miss Noah, 19, she needed her staff to display their hairstyles to the public.

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But the devout Muslim insisted that wearing her headscarf was essential to her beliefs.

Miss Noah, who has been rejected for 25 different hairdressing jobs after interviews, is suing Miss Desrosiers for more than £15,000 for injury to her feelings plus an unspecified sum for lost earnings.

Miss Desrosiers, who set up the Wedge salon in King's Cross, North London, 18 months ago, says she faces financial ruin if she loses the case.

She denies any discrimination and insists it is an "absolutely basic" job requirement that cus-Yesterday, Miss Desrosier said: "When a potential client walks past on the street, they look into a salon at the stylists to get an impression of what haircut they are going to get there.

"The image I have built my salon on is very urban, funky, punky. That is the look I am going for.

Flamboyant hair: Owner Sarah Desrosiers expects her staff to help 'sell image'

"If an employee were wearing a baseball cap or cowboy hat I would ask them to remove it at work.

"It has nothing to do with religion. But I now feel like I have been branded a racist. My name is being dragged through the mud."

She went on: "This girl is suing me for more than I earn in a year.

"I am a small business and have only had my salon a year and a half. If I lose this lawsuit, my business will fold."

In legal papers setting out her employment tribunal claim, Miss Noah alleges she was discriminated against at her interview in March and wrongly turned down for a job she was capable of doing because of her headscarf.

Yesterday, she said: "The advertised job of junior assistant stylist was perfect for me. I did NVQs in hairdressing at college and have 18 months experience at a salon in Ealing Broadway.

"On the phone, Sarah sounded very keen on me because of my experience and qualifications. I sent her my CV and she invited me in a few days later for a trial day.

"But when I got there, she looked at me in shock. She started making excuses about wanting someone who lived locally but I knew it was my headscarf.

"She said, 'You really should have told me that you wear a headscarf'. She asked if I wore it all the time and I said, 'Yes'. She asked if I would take it off for work and I said, 'No'.

"Wearing a headscarf is very important in my religion and is non-negotiable. It is about showing your modest side."

Miss Noah added: "I am Britishborn and I know the urban, funky look. Just because I wear a headscarf does not mean I do not follow the latest trends and fashions.

"Afterwards, I felt so devastated and depressed. It has always been my ambition to be a hairdresser but I have given up now after being rejected 25 times.

"It is always because of my headscarf, whether they say it or not.

"I just thought that Sarah should not be allowed to get away with it and that if I don't stand up for myself, no one else will."

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:06 am

I feel really sorry for the employer, in the paper this week there was a story about a bus driver that got all the passengers off the bus so he could pray!

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:37 am

It is ridiculous. I hope the court finds in favour of the company. Things are going way too far in PC. Businesses have the right to run their businesses in a way that meets their business needs.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:45 am

"Wearing a headscarf is very important in my religion and is non-negotiable. It is about showing your modest side."

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Where I come from there's a saying: Never go to a bald barber.

I suggest a possible solution. Bring in Sarah for one week to work side-by-side with the person who got hired. Whoever brings in the most business wins the position.

Post by **spot** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:45 am

She must have quite a large salon, UK employment law excludes small businesses from these recruitment requirements.

saffy · Post by **saffy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:26 am

Isn't this an old story?

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:30 am

Again, this is another story about the difficulties involved in trying to integrate people from one world-view into a society with a completely different one. I don't think that the case will really go in favour of the lady with the scarf, though in this case I can see how she might be frustrated at being turned down for so many jobs because of the scarf thing (or maybe she is just apalling bad at job interviews, who knows). But the employer has the right to set some fairly basic work place conditions for an employee as long as they are reasonable, and I don't see this case as being one involving unreasonableness in the case of the employer.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:31 am

fuzzy butt;824868 wrote: So in essence the employer counter sues for the girl enforcing her belief system on others.

I don't see that. She's not suing to make everyone in the salon wear headscarves. However, I would imagine that any potential customer would be hesitant to trust their hairstyle (designed to be displayed in public) to a person who clearly believes such a behavior is imprudent at best. How can she give her best effort?

It's like going to a right wing evangelical abortionist. How much business do you think he'd bring in?

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:48 am

Oh man, the salon owner has every right, it's her business. Take the damn scarf off if you want the job. You are in England now love.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:30 am

Kind of a different topic:

I think that this cool, did you notice that this post makes a reference to Muslims, and then at the top of the post is an ad for the ‘International Muslim Matrimonial’.

In other posts when a ‘key word’ is used in a post, the ad at the top relates somehow to topic being discussed.

Cool. Got to love technology.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:36 am

mikeinie;825021 wrote: Kind of a different topic:

I think that this cool, did you notice that this post makes a reference to Muslims, and then at the top of the post is an ad for the ‘International Muslim Matrimonial’.

In other posts when a ‘key word’ is used in a post, the ad at the top relates somehow to topic being discussed.

Cool. Got to love technology.

Yes, technology will make fools of us all one day.

Oh, I applied for that leadership position you put me onto, if I get it I will put a good word in for you with the boys.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:54 pm

mikeinie;825021 wrote: Kind of a different topic:

I think that this cool, did you notice that this post makes a reference to Muslims, and then at the top of the post is an ad for the ‘International Muslim Matrimonial’.

In other posts when a ‘key word’ is used in a post, the ad at the top relates somehow to topic being discussed.

Cool. Got to love technology.

Yeah it's so so clever.

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:52 pm

"Wearing a headscarf is very important in my religion and is non-negotiable. It is about showing your modest side."

Why on earth then, is this "modest" woman prepared to be employed by an "immodest" employer, work alongside "immodest" staff, and worsed of all perhaps, cut, style, and perm the hair of "immodest" customers.

One cannot have her cake and eat it madam.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:14 am

binbag;1340116 wrote: "Wearing a headscarf is very important in my religion and is non-negotiable. It is about showing your modest side."

Why on earth then, is this "modest" woman prepared to be employed by an "immodest" employer, work alongside "immodest" staff, and worsed of all perhaps, cut, style, and perm the hair of "immodest" customers.

One cannot have her cake and eat it madam.A nurse doesn't have to get naked to spongebath a patient (but O! the fantasies that would fulfill!), so why should this woman have to show her hair to cut someone else's?

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:52 pm

Accountable;1340165 wrote: A nurse doesn't have to get naked to spongebath a patient (but O! the fantasies that would fulfill!),Depends what the nurse looks like. :yh_whistl

Accountable;1340165 wrote: so why should this woman have to show her hair to cut someone else's? Because that's what the owner of the hairdresser salon wants, Accountable. She wants to maintain the image she is presenting to the public, and headsarfs do not promote that image.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is all this leading to? ......

An employer interviewing candidates for a job vacancy would be obligated, even if the candidate was unsuitable, to offer the position to an interviewee wearing a scarf for religious reasons!

Next thing we'll read?

"Business owner sued for refusing to employ woman wearing Burka". (despite her being an unsuitable candidate)

The employer would ultimately be forced to endure a lengthy process of proving their case.

:-5

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:11 pm

binbag;1340232 wrote: Depends what the nurse looks like. :yh_whistl

Because that's what the owner of the hairdresser salon wants, Accountable. She wants to maintain the image she is presenting to the public, and headsarfs do not promote that image.That was actually rhetorical. :wah:

binbag;1340232 wrote: What is all this leading to? ......

An employer interviewing candidates for a job vacancy would be obligated, even if the candidate was unsuitable, to offer the position to an interviewee wearing a scarf for religious reasons!

Next thing we'll read?

"Business owner sued for refusing to employ woman wearing Burka". ... at Hooters!

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:19 am

How odd, 2 and a half years after the last reply, up the thread pops again. lol

Post by **spot** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:31 am

It's fun to see old members brought in again when a thread's extended, though. Welcome back.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:34 am

spot;1340538 wrote: It's fun to see old members brought in again when a thread's extended, though. Welcome back.
Thanks Spot. I just had an email notification. I can't believe the same old people are still here posting.

Post by **spot** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:38 am

crazygal;1340540 wrote: Thanks Spot. I just had an email notification. I can't believe the same old people are still here posting.

Those old people don't get out a lot (except Lon, of course). Some of us younger ones are here simply because it's an interesting place to chat.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:42 am

spot;1340542 wrote: Those old people don't get out a lot (except Lon, of course). Some of us younger ones are here simply because it's an interesting place to chat.

Yes, I used to love coming on here, it was like a second home. That was until my son went into Foster care and my cat died. It was the worst time of my life and I was made to feel 1000 times worse so stayed away.

Things are great now though. My son's been back home for over two years (was gone a year) and I was proved right by the awful Social Services. My daughter is a little dream and helps both my son and I through the troubles as she's always so happy.

Sorry, I've gone off topic already, lol.

M.A.S · Post by **M.A.S** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:42 am

She has her freedom to put head scarf or not. Hairdresser should refused and gave a reason ((not racism reason)) so that girl can't sue her. However, my sister was working at a saloon and she was not using head scarf because no men allowed to enter the saloon she was working on. so circumstances can affect sometimes.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:47 am

No men allowed to enter? That's really weird. What is the age by the way that males are 'allowed' to see a woman's hair? I have no idea about things like this.

M.A.S · Post by **M.A.S** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:56 am

crazygal;1340547 wrote: No men allowed to enter? That's really weird. What is the age by the way that males are 'allowed' to see a woman's hair? I have no idea about things like this.

well, that saloon was for females only :p that's why no men allowed to get in. the age that males can see woman's hair is before adulthood. It's not really adulthood, it depends but I think under 15 or 13. I was not allowed to see my female cousins when reached 14.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:14 am

It's just hair though, or are they nude hairdressers? lol.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:19 am

M.A.S;1340549 wrote: well, that saloon was for females only :p that's why no men allowed to get in. the age that males can see woman's hair is before adulthood. It's not really adulthood, it depends but I think under 15 or 13. I was not allowed to see my female cousins when reached 14.

What is the reason or purpose for hiding hair. Forgive my ignorance. I know in Christianity the covering of the female head is to display her submission to the male.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:30 am

Ahso!;1340556 wrote: What is the reason or purpose for hiding hair. Forgive my ignorance. I know in Christianity the covering of the female head is to display her submission to the male.

I don't know myself. I used to work with a woman who wasn't allowed to show her hair and she said it was out of respect for her husband. Only he was allowed to see it.

M.A.S · Post by **M.A.S** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:34 am

crazygal;1340555 wrote: It's just hair though, or are they nude hairdressers? lol.

yes, they are all nude "so do I" BUT wearing clothes :yh_rotfl...

Ahso!;1340556 wrote: What is the reason or purpose for hiding hair. Forgive my ignorance. I know in Christianity the covering of the female head is to display her submission to the male.

Interesting question, I think it's a religion things.

crazygal;1340564 wrote: I don't know myself. I used to work with a woman who wasn't allowed to show her hair and she said it was out of respect for her husband. Only he was allowed to see it.

I'm not sure females are hiding their hair because of "husbands", even single female use headscarf.

you know guys I'm just curious as you are. I looked for some answers and I though It would be a good Idea to share some answers with you:

why Hijab Islam

The Non-Muslim Hijabi: Why wear Hijab?

Post by **spot** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:49 am

M.A.S;1340595 wrote: you know guys I'm just curious as you are.Here's the Christian command from the bible for women to cover their hair in church, but it doesn't extend to the rest of their lives:Man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:02 pm

did i miss a post about where this ended up with the courts?

Post by **spot** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:15 pm

flopstock;1340607 wrote: did i miss a post about where this ended up with the courts? Not a court as such, in England we have recognised Tribunals which both parties agree beforehand to be bound by, and they deal only with civil matters, nothing criminal. The proposed "Sharia Courts" here fall into exactly the same category. The two put their cases and the hairdressing company gave £4,000 ($6,000) compensation to the woman they refused to employ. The tribunals are never in a position to order the reluctant employer to give the employment, the decision can only result in either approval of their action or compensation for a bad choice.