EEOC sues Dynamic Medical for religious discrimination after forcing employees to attend Scientology Courses

Dynamic Medical Services, Inc., a medical and chiropractic services company is being accused, in a lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  of violated federal law by requiring  employees to attend Scientology courses. (Case No. 1:13-cv-21666). According  to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the Dynamic Medical required employees, including Norma Rodriguez, Maykel Ruz, Rommy Sanchez,  Yanileydis Capote to spend approximately half their work days in  courses that involved Scientology religious practices, such as screaming at ashtrays or staring at a person for 8 hours without moving.  The company also instructed employees to  attend courses at the Church of Scientology.   Additionally, Dynamic Medical required Romney Sanchez to undergo an audit by  connecting herself to an E-meter, a device which Scientologists believe to be a religious artifact, and undergo purification treatments at the  Church of Scientology.  The  EEOC claims that employees repeatedly asked not to attend the courses but were told  it was a requirement of their employment.  In the  cases of Norma Rodriguez and Romney Sanchez, when they refused to participate in Scientology  religious practices and or did not conform to Scientology religious beliefs, they  were terminated. Requiring  employees to conform to religious practices and beliefs of their  employer, creating a hostile work environment, and failing to reasonably  accommodate the religious beliefs of an employee are all in violation Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit against Dynamic Medical Services, Inc., seeks  back pay for Rodriguez and Sanchez, compensatory and punitive damages for all  named claimants and a class of individuals subjected to a hostile work  environment and disparate treatment, and injunctive relief ordering the company  to stop requiring employee participation in courses involving religious  practices, among other types of injunctive relief. Malcolm Miller of the EEOC, said, “When an employer makes  an employment decision based on employees’ failure to adopt the employer’s  religious beliefs, it violates federal law. If you have suffered religious discrimination or wrongful termination, please give California Employment Attorney, Todd M. Friedman a call at 877-449-8898 for a free consultation.