The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a religious discrimination suit against Whole Foods. The case (which also includes claims of retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress) stems from an incident last year in which a Muslim worker at the Whole Foods at 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue was treated differently after a trip to Mecca, including being followed when he prayed. He was followed and watched so much, that he began to pray outside by the dumpsters just to have some privacy. The worker, Glenn Mack, Jr, claims he was also fired for being a Muslim.

At a fact-finding hearing, CAIR-Philadelphia attorney Amara Chaudhry said:

In 2010, Whole Foods became the first national supermarket chain to have a ‘Ramadan Promotion’ targeting Muslim customers. A company that works so hard to attract Muslim customers should be similarly welcoming of Muslim employees, and we are willing to hold them accountable for the representations they made to our community.”

Mack is seeking compensation for pay benefits he would have received if he had kept the job, and damages. The more legal-savvy among us can check out the full complaint here. So now we know the things Whole Foods likes: Food from all different places and backgrounds. Things Whole Foods (allegedly) does not like: People from all different places and backgrounds.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 at 10:00 am.