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shawn703

(2,702 posts) Sat May 5, 2012, 06:44 PM May 2012

AT&T to pay Muslim woman $5M in harassment case [View all]

Source: Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City woman who converted to Islam in 2005 said she was harassed for years at AT&T, and that the abuse boiled over in 2008 when her boss snatched her head scarf and exposed her hair.

A Jackson County jury on Thursday awarded Susann Bashir $5 million in punitive damages in her discrimination lawsuit, along with $120,000 in lost wages and other actual damages.

The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/JKWbqR ) reported Saturday the award appears to be the largest jury verdict for a workplace discrimination case in Missouri history.

Bashir said in court documents that her work environment became hostile immediately after she converted, with her co-workers making harassing comments about her religion and referring to her hijab as "that thing on her head."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-KQ8FyO2ee3mWk_KcAuyuXOM1kg?docId=4242ffcbb0154aca88d46474abc221b5

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AT&T to pay Muslim woman $5M in harassment case [View all] shawn703 May 2012 OP

This never would have happened at the "real" AT&T PSPS May 2012 #1

I'll go out in a limb... LuvLoogie May 2012 #2

Because the "real" AT&T lost a class action suit (big bucks) and actually revamped their corporate SharonAnn May 2012 #6

That was an EEOC sex/race discrimination action in 1973, not a class action. PSPS May 2012 #8

yeah the other poster must of never heard of the landmark case against the Bell system lunasun May 2012 #10

I know AT&T is a ridiculous company to work for/with these days.... octothorpe May 2012 #25

That's a ridiculous award. Nt Flatulo May 2012 #3

Which is fitting, since the conditions that led to it were at least as ridiculous. Posteritatis May 2012 #5

I think it's more likely that opportunists will now deliberately provoke others at work Flatulo May 2012 #7

Get right on that; we'll compare your court case's outcome to this person's. (nt) Posteritatis May 2012 #9

Do you not think that awards like this encourage frivolous lawsuits? Flatulo May 2012 #11

That situation and this one aren't even on the same planet. Your comparison is absurd. (nt) Posteritatis May 2012 #12

Sorry, you're probably right. I'm just feeling pissy tonight due to lots of back pain. Flatulo May 2012 #14

in other words, you're suffering and so should others frylock May 2012 #18

I hope you've never suffered from crippling, physical pain, Flatulo May 2012 #21

Your comparison isn't absurd at all. Rozlee May 2012 #19

then do it and see what happens SemperEadem May 2012 #15

The judgement will accomplish nothing except to compensate the victim. Flatulo May 2012 #17

I'm not the one hating SemperEadem May 2012 #26

Only partially correct... Flatulo May 2012 #29

I think it is obscene that this gets massive compensation whereas snagglepuss May 2012 #20

Right on. Arctic Dave May 2012 #4

The most amazing thing about this is Politicalboi May 2012 #13

In Missouri SemperEadem May 2012 #16

I have to wonder how many Muslims will never be considered for a job now Flatulo May 2012 #22

Actual damages are fine cosmicone May 2012 #23

Exactly. It amazes me that people who scream the loudest about Flatulo May 2012 #24

It isn't about that. It is about justice and changing behavior. harun May 2012 #28

I guarantee that the abuse this person endured is already very strongly prohibited at AT&T Flatulo May 2012 #30

Sounds exactly like the company I used to work for - which was SWB/AT&T REP May 2012 #27