Jewish medics claim discrimination by Pikesville Volunteer Fire Co.

Today I’m writing something that can be linked to employment law, as I found it an interesting subject in my previous article.

Three Orthodox Jewish medics have charged the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company with religious discrimination, alleging they were barred from responding to calls unless they shaved their beards.
Matthias Goldstein, Brennan Gross and Avrohom Green have not responded to a call since January, when they were informed that their beards posed a safety concern.

Goldstein is the chief of preventive medicine and wellness at Good Samaritan Hospital and he has been a medic with the company since 1993. Gross has been hired last November and Green was denied acceptance as a medic in January because of his beard.
The only thing that is allowed is a moustache and sideburns that not interfere with the proper seal of a breathing apparatus face piece.

Goldstein and Gross were told that their beards would interfere with respiratory masks the company was planning to purchase for its medics.
Actually the masks are typically worn by fire fighters, not by medics who purposely keep their distance from any fire to better help victims.

Goldstein and Gross claim the company is retaliating for their volunteering with Hatzalah, an emergency response organization mostly made up of Orthodox Jews that serves Northwest Baltimore.
The complaint to the EEOC claims religious discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

My opinion about this is that it is a shame that religious issues are getting in the way. Again this is an example of how much discrimination there is in our world. I hope they finally make up some rules about this.

Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20091110/ai_n42066633/?tag=content;col1