New York: Disney, winning the heart of children since 1923, has now won love and respect of the Sikhs-Americans.
A Sikh employee at Walt Disney Florida was barred from work due to his religious appearance. The turban of pride became a hindrance for seven years. But now the company has now agreed to end the discrimination and has allowed him to continue his job.
In 2008, Gurdit Singh, who was working as a mail carrier at the amusement park, was asked to quit the job and was not permitted to run mail routes visible to the guests at the park as according to the Disney bosses, Singh violated the company’s ‘Look Policy’.
In a letter to Disney, Sikh Coalition and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the “segregation” relegated Singh to a mail route that had a greater workload than other routes. It created “animosity” among his co-workers because he could not assist in operating other routes and it precluded his opportunities for professional advancement.
Following the intervention by Sikh Coalition and ACLU, Walt Disney World finally reversed its decision and granted Singh a religious accommodation.
“The turban and beard will not come in between Singh and the guests at the popular amusement park. He will be allowed to run mail routes like any other carrier,” Sikh Coalition said.
“Because Disney is a major multinational corporation, its decision to grant Singh a religious accommodation is an important step forward in achieving workplace equality for Sikhs and others of minority faiths, and Disney should be applauded,” ACLU said.
Singh had requested the Coalition to help him end the discrimination at the workplace. The Sikh Coalition and ACLU together had sent a ‘forceful demand letter’ to Disney in 2015, asking for the right of Gurdit Singh.
“No one should have to face daily humiliation because of his or her religious beliefs. I am also grateful to Disney and hope this decision opens the door for other Sikhs and religious minorities who wish to work for this company,” Singh said.
(With inputs from PTI)