Resorts Sikh sues WDW for not allowing turban

[Plo Koon]

Everyone else gave their opinion, and I'm giving mine!

To be honest, I'd feel ripped off if I went on POTC to finding even the kindest man boarding people while wearing a turban! This is a show gosh darnit and I want my full experience! Now, any ride in adventureland it would be fine except for jungle cruise.

[ryguy222]

Doesn't Jafar in the Aladdin show wear a turban? In fact don't a lot of the guards wear turbans? He could come to DCA and be Jafar or something.

[OrcaGal]

This still does not answer my question -_- What do you honestly think Uncle Walt would do?

[mousecrazy]

Originally Posted by OrcaGal

This still does not answer my question -_- What do you honestly think Uncle Walt would do?

He set the policys most likely in the first place so I am sure he would back the companies policy structure today.

[AraBrokenDreamer]

Ditto that. Disney was all for the full immersion experience (look at how well he paid attention to detail in a lot of his rides), and this is no different. And I agree, fire the HR guy for givng the Sikh a reason to sue, because all he needed to say was: you weren't what we wanted for the job, and move on.

-Ara

[rgoofy]

Walt would tell Mr turban to hit the road. They didn't even let long haired males into Disneyland until the late sixties. http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/longhair.asp

[Kileli]

Originally Posted by OrcaGal

This still does not answer my question -_- What do you honestly think Uncle Walt would do?

If they let him work, What would he do? Couldn't work any of the rides, because he wouldn't fit in, the turan doesn't exactly go witht the Matterhorn costumes.

[rgoofy]

Aren't Sikhs also required to always posses a dagger? I don't necessarily have a problem with someone having a knife in their pocket but they cannot take it on board an airplane or into a courthouse etc. Religious beliefs and practices, even among fundamentalists, (I don't mess with snakes {nonsense and non biblical} but am a Pentecostal) are not absolute. Our constitution guarantees freedom OF religion; not always the practices that go with it.

[ryguy222]

Originally Posted by OrcaGal

This still does not answer my question -_- What do you honestly think Uncle Walt would do?

Well to his guests, Walt seemed like a very nice man. To his employee's he was a tough business man just like any either with strict rules. Of course he wouldn't let the guy work. Of course nobody can say except for Disney himself, but he isn't around anymore. If they found a way to slow down aging, or allow people to live 50-60 years longer then average, then maybe he would think differently. Times have changed, and no matter how long a guys hair is, they still let him into Disneyland, or Disneyworld for that matter. I think he would turn the guy down, say you know we really can't hire you unless you take off the turban, it doesn't fit with the theme.

But I also thought of a similar situation

In Aladdin at DCA, there is a lady who is in one of those motorized chairs. She has been there for quite a while, and many may say that if she can get in, certainly the man with the turban can as well. They accomadated her, and dressed up her motorized wheel chair, with a couple of flags. Why not for this guy? I'm not saying they should allow him to work at WDW, but if the lady in this motorized wheel chair wasn't hired, and Sued Disney, would we be saying the same about her, that were saying about this man?

[Magic1]

Accommodating an employee's physical limitations in the workplace is supported by law (with some exceptions), requiring support of an employee's chosen religion is not. There is a major difference in choice: one can proclaim they follow Islam, Christianity, etc. at any time, but one doesn't choose to have a genetic disposition to being overweight.

I wonder what Disney's policies are on carrying a Sikh Kirpan (dagger) around.

.:Magic1:.

[Ezra]

Honestly, I think Walt would do pretty much exactly what these supervisors did... They let the man work where his turban would not detract from the show (it was under the costume's hat during the toy soldier parade) and found other work for him whenever his appearance didn't fit (the so-called "menial tasks" the supervisor found for him to do).

That supervisor didn't have to find other work for him. They could have just reduced his hours. Personally, I think they went above-and-beyond what I would expect an employer to do under the circumstances. It's pretty much what I imagine Walt would do. I believe Walt was always willing to work with people who had talent and were eager to work.

[OrcaGal]

You all have great opinions! Now comes the part where you all hate me. Bottom line: this is discrimination, there are laws against this, this is America, this *should not be happening* I hope this guy gets gets a job and wins his case!

[AraBrokenDreamer]

Originally Posted by OrcaGal

You all have great opinions! Now comes the part where you all hate me. Bottom line: this is discrimination, there are laws against this, this is America, this *should not be happening* I hope this guy gets gets a job and wins his case!

...I really don't want to say it... but it's already been said, so I'll bite the bullet:

They TRIED to accomodate him (just like they tried to accomodate that employee with some mental illness who worked at WDW a few months back), but when you get down to it, it could never work. The turban and dagger would go against most of the themed CM jobs.
This is a SHOW. There is discrimination there ALWAYS because they want a specific thing for the part. Actresses dye their hair, change their skin tone, change their weight and their habits to accomodate a role. If he wasn't willing to accomodate for his role, then he won't get the role. It's just that simple.
It is HIS CHOICE to adhere so strictly to his religion, and in doing so, he accepted the narrowing of jobs it presents him. That makes this his fault.

He could get a pity settlement, but I highly doubt there is enough fast-talking to get him much more than that.

-Ara

[ryguy222]

Discrimination? Blasphemy!
Its not discrimination, its cold hard facts. There turning him away for his turban, not his religion. Yes the turban is part of the religion, but Disney didn't view it as a religion, they viewed it from the facts. They respect his religion, but they can't have the turban. If he could accommodate this, then he might get the job. He's got as good of a chance as any other person, but rule #1 of the company policy is to follow there dress code. They have a strict standard of how there employee's look. Lets face it, since 9/11 there have been racist people all around. I'm not one of them, but I know there are people like that, lots of people in fact, and I'm sure lots of the go to Disneyworld. Profiling, is a major deal as well. That man at the gas station was shot a while back because he was wearing a turban. And unfortunately some people still do profile others. Many would be upset with disney for allowing that. Its just like anyone who has gang symbols, or piercings. I've got no problems with the mans religion, but it makes him stand out more so then another employee, and disney doesn't want that.

[kairamoon]

It's not discrimination because they aren't refusing to hire him based on a discriminating factor. They aren't refusing to hire him based on the fact that he's a Sikh but based on the fact that he won't take off his turban. It would be the same thing as me not getting hired to play Jack Sparrow for meet and greets because I'm a girl. Pretty sure that would make me stand out a little bit and people would complain but it's not discrimination.