Religious Discrimination: Manhattan Store Sued for Discrimination for Prohibiting Crucifix Wearing at Work

December 13, 2010

New York, New York – A 41-year old female employee has filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against a Manhattan frame and watch wholesaler, for allegedly prohibiting her from wearing her crucifix at work.

The lawsuit was filed by Jamie Errico, a former VP at Concepts in Time near Herald Square.

According to the lawsuit, Errico, a Roman Catholic, claims that there is a double standard implemented by the owners of the store, who are Orthodox Jews.

Errico alleges that she was prohibited from wearing her crucifix while Orthodox men were allowed to wear Yarmulkes and women were allowed to wear Star of David pendants.

She also claims that in one incident where she wore her crucifix, she was pulled aside by one of the store owners, Saul Hemal, and was told to remove the necklace or tuck it under her shirt.

The owner added that she should never wear the necklace again.

Errico also stated that her employers docked her pay when she did not work on Christmas Eve but Jewish employees were allowed to leave early on the eve of important Jewish Holidays.

She was terminated last December.

Errico is now seeking unspecified damages for the alleged gender and religious discrimination she suffered while working in the company.

She also claims that the lawsuit filed against her by the company alleging that she is trying to steal their clients to form another business is retaliation for the discrimination complaint she filed under EEOC.

The store did not comment about the lawsuit.