ConocoPhillips (COP) agreed to pay $20,000 to settle a federal
lawsuit that accused the oil giant of discriminating against a
worker who claimed he was refused a schedule change so he could
attend church on Sunday mornings.
The company will pay Clarence Taylor, a 34-year pipe fitter at
its Bayway Refinery in New Jersey, $7,500 and provide him with five
days of additional vacation leave. ConocoPhillips is also paying
$12,500 to a charity selected by Taylor, a foodbank.
ConocoPhillips denied liability and didn't admit any unlawful
conduct or wrongdoing.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2007 by the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, asserted Taylor was involuntarily placed on
a 12-week assignment requiring him to work Sunday mornings. Because
he is a congregation leader, he asked superiors that his schedule
be modified so he could continue to attend services.
According to the lawsuit, the only option ConocoPhillips gave
Taylor was to use his vacation time, which would have been depleted
by the end of the three-month shift. While his first two vacation
requests were granted, ConocoPhillips refused Taylor's next
request, and he couldn't attend services for two months, according
to the lawsuit.
In 2007, The Associated Press quoted Spencer H. Lewis, district
director of the EEOC's New York district office, as saying: "If
reasonable alternatives exist, the law does not allow an employer
to force an employee to choose between keeping his job and
practicing his faith." Lewis added: "ConocoPhillips did not meet
its obligation to explore non-disruptive alternatives, such as job
swapping, that could have accommodated this man's religious
practices."
A ConocoPhillips spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for
comment Thursday.
-By Mike Barris, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5658;
mike.barris@dowjones.com
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