Tropi - Your Thoughts

[My Looh]

Hi Tropi:

I think I remember reading once that you are a former flight attendant. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Just curious about your thoughts on this?


Flight attendant becomes a Muslim and then says she is now refusing to serve alcohol. There is an arrangement that one of the other flight attendants on the plane will serve alcohol to the passengers in her (the muslim woman's) section of the plane. One of these other flight attendants files a complaint and now the Muslim flight attendant is suspended and has hired a lawyer who has filed a discrimination claim against her employer.

See the story below.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/09/08/muslim-flight-attendant-i-was-suspended-for-not-serving-alcohol.html

I'm just wondering what you would have done? Would you have accommodated this woman's new found religious restrictions and performed some of her job functions for her?

[Tropicana]

This is a tough one. Employers have an obligation for "reasonable accommodation" when hiring or dealing with employees from religious groups. Canada is very strict on this.

However, serving alcohol is a part of the job of being a flight attendant. It's like saying I am going to take the job of a waitress in a restaurant that serves booze and pork but I won't serve booze or pork because I am a Muslim. Ditto with a chef who works at a restaurant that serves pork.

I can just see it now. I accept a job as a lap dancer but won't take off my clothes because I am a Christian and it conflicts with my religion.


Not sure why I like talking about lap dancing.


Sorry I digress.

If the basic requirements of the job conflict with your religion to that extent, find another job. Now I do think that the airline had an obligation for "reasonable accommodation". They could have given her a lateral move and she could have worked as a passenger agent for example. So they dropped the ball on this one and I think on that basis they will lose their case and they should.

Would LOVE to hear what Magix thinks.

Magix, if Muslim flight attendants work for Emirates or Etihad, are they required to serve alcohol. As far as I know they are.

[My Looh]

Thanks Tropi.

I can understand what you mean about the employer having to offer her reasonable accommodation in cases of religious obligations etc... .

I was just wondering how the other flight attendants would feel about having to cover a co-worker's duties, would there be any resentment? I guess she (the Muslim lady) could help them out in other ways while they are serving beverages to her passengers.


P.S. How do you know about lap dancing?

[j-kid]

Dis law suit is crap. Shi need fi duh har jab, or quit. Dem did not change the requirements of the jab after shi got hired, shi accepted the jab knowing dat serving booze was wan ah di job responsibilities.

[j-kid]

Maybi shi subconsciously revealing another one of her secret after dark activities?

Thanks Tropi.

P.S. How do you know about lap dancing?

[Tropicana]

.

I was just wondering how the other flight attendants would feel about having to cover a co-worker's duties, would there be any resentment? I guess she (the Muslim lady) could help them out in other ways while they are serving beverages to her passengers.

That is why I said she should be moved to a job that does not require alcohol service.

[Magician]

But stop! Is either I getting ole or mi nuh keep up with Boardlane Spreadsheet. Caw all now mi know seh Tropi got her Masters in BELLY Dancing.
So mi confuse mi head bout de lap dance ting.

Is a double major Tropi?
Or if yuh fling de belly inna smaddy lap in name lap dance?

[Is you draw me inna de thread] so mi reach!

[Tropicana]

A double major. Lap dancing is very lucrative.

[Magician]

Zeen!
You use the pole too?

[Tropicana]

Absolutely....but you nevah answer de question about Muslim flight attendants refusing to serve booze. How is this handled in the Middle East?