NO SERVICE Part of the job

Posted on 09/08/2015

A flight attendant says she was suspended by ExpressJet because of her refusal to serve alcohol due to her religious beliefs.  Charee Stanley, who has been an employee at ExpressJet for three years and converted to Islam a year ago, says she only realized in June that Islam bans serving alcohol, as well as drinking it.
Her attorney says the Atlanta-based airline initially agreed to a religious accommodation, telling her another flight attendant could handle passenger requests for alcohol.

However, she said Stanley was put on a 12-month unpaid leave last month after another attendant complained.

Stanley filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Detroit last week.

ExpressJet issued a statement saying the airline values diversity but could not comment on personnel matters.

She has requested her employment be reinstated by the company and that they also reinstate her religious beliefs accommodations. “I don't think that I should have to choose between practicing my religion properly or earning a living,” Stanley said at the Tuesday news conference.

This is not about religion. The reason why she won't do the job is completely beside the point in this case. This is about doing the the job one was hired to do.  If a person takes on a job, and for whatever reason along the way finds they cannot fulfill the requirements of that job – they should leave.  They could, presumably, request a transfer to some other position that does not violate their changed principles, or beliefs, but the employer should in no way be obliged to provide it - or to compensate them.  The employee changed the rules after the fact.  They should accept the consequences.