- United Airlines will pay $305,000 for a Buddhist pilot who refused religiously to attend AA.
- He was then denied permission to fly and lost his medical certificate.
- United was willing to accept staff from non-Christian faiths as part of its future program.
United Airlines will pay $305,000 in compensation to a Buddhist pilot for refusing to attend meetings held by Christian-focused Alcoholics Anonymous.
In a statement, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that it had received a complaint from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Press releaseThe airline discriminated against the pilot who was suffering from alcohol dependence after it failed to provide an alternative route after he refused to attend meetings of the AA citing religious undertones.
After his diagnosis, the man, who was a veteran pilot of over 30 years, lost his medical certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Participating in AA meetings can help you regain your certification in United’s HIMS occupational substance misuse treatment program.
He protested, citing religious aspects of AA’s 12-step program. This program was founded in a Christian group. See the FAQ page for more information about the group.. The commission stated that United had rejected the suggestion by United of Refuge Recovery, a Buddhist-based peer support group.
According to the commission, the decision violated Title VII of 1964’s Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on religion. The airline was sued by the commission in 2020. According to The Associated Press, the incident was reported by them..
United will pay $305,000 back to the pilot and pay damages. It will also reinstate him into its HIMS program and allow him to participate in a non-12-step peer rehabilitation program. In the future, it will accept religious accommodation in its program.
Jeffrey Burstein, EEOC regional attorney in New York, said that employers have an affirmative duty to adjust their policies to accommodate employees’ religious beliefs. “If an employer requires that employees attend AA as a part of a rehabilitation program they must ensure that they provide alternatives for employees with religious objections.”
Insider spoke with a spokesperson from United, who stated: “Regarding EEOC safety, safety is our top concern and we have high confidence in HIMS program. It is considered the gold standard in our industry for the monitoring drug abuse.”
The EEOCEnforcement of federal laws that prohibit discrimination in employment.
