Belk, Inc. to Pay $55,000 as Settlement to Religious Discrimination Suit

March 16, 2011

North Carolina – A district court has made a decision requiring Belk, Inc. to pay $55,000 and provide additional relief to settle a religious discrimination suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency said Wednesday.

According to EEOC’s suit, during the 2008 Christmas season, Belk, Inc. asked one of its female employees working in Belk’s Crabtree Valley Mall to wear a Santa hat and apron. But because the employee’s religion, Jehovah’s Witnesses, does not allow them to recognize holidays, she refused. After a short period of time, the employee was terminated for not wearing the Santa costume.

Under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are not allowed to take discriminatory actions against their employees based on race, age, gender, national origin and religion.

Aside from paying monetary damages, the company would also need to conduct anti-discrimination trainings to its employees, supervisors and managers. Belk, Inc. is also barred from taking retaliatory actions against the complainant.