Florida: Muslim worker accuses UPS of bias
11 July 2012
15 Comments
In the last decade, 6,600 Muslims have filed complaints with the federal government, claiming that their employers discriminated against them because of their beliefs. But Ashraf Sarandah’s allegations against the United Parcel Service of America go way beyond the typical religious discrimination charges, according to his lawyers.
Ashraf claims that his boss at UPS called him “a monkey” over instant messenger, because of the color of his skin. And another manager allegedly followed him into the bathroom, mocked him for urinating sitting down, as Ashraf’s particular beliefs dictate, and gave him a demonstration in “how we urinate in this country.”
On Tuesday, Sarandah’s lawyers announced that they were filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing UPS of discriminating against Ashraf (pictured above with his daughter) because of his race, religion and national origin.
Sarandah, who is a Palestinian Muslim, got a job as an industrial engineer planner with UPS in Orlando, Fla., at the end of 2004. He claims that the harassment began soon after. And he says that his boss, Larry Campbell, in 2008 actually called him a monkey over instant messenger, according to a written exchange provided by Ashraf’s lawyers.
“who are you calling a monkey,” Sarandah replied, “that is very inappropriate.” Campbell clarified that he was calling Sarandah a monkey.
Because “of my skin tone,” Sarandah asked. “yep,” his manager responded.
“It doesn’t get more blatant than that, when a manager calls an employee a monkey,” said Sarandah’s attorney, Michael Hanna, of the law firm Morgan & Morgan.
Looks like UPS Corporate needs to do a little housecleaning.
I’ve worked for a few large corporate entities. Different departments sometimes have very differing standards of conduct within the same company. Some managers are completely clueless as to what sort of behavior is appropriate and treat their departments like a kingdom. It’s always fun to see their kingdoms come crashing down when they realize that they didn’t have as much clout with the board of directors as they thought they did. Sadly, though, that isn’t always what happens. Sometimes it’s a slap on the wrist and the whistle-blower gets the bum’s rush. Hopefully UPS has a little more sense.
11 July 2012 at 9:58 am