Discrimination Charges Filed with New Mexico Equal Opportunity Commission (Washington DC, May 12, 2011) – Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed charges with the New Mexico Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Española Hospital and Presbyterian Health Services for religious discrimination against a Sikh American. The plaintiff, Sahaj Singh Khalsa, alleges that employees and hospital administrators actively discriminated against him because of his religion, making disparaging remarks, threats and, in one incident physically assaulting him. He further alleges that hospital human resources staff made no meaningful attempt to curtail this religiously motivated harassment. In accordance with his Sikh faith, Mr. Khalsa maintains an uncut beard and wears a turban. Mr. Khalsa was employed by Presbyterian Health Services (PHS) as a Paramedic and Field Operations Supervisor for nine years from 2001 to 2010. During this time, Mr. Khalsa maintained an exemplary work record and provided excellent care to people in need. However, beginning in 2008 the working environment at Española Hospital became progressively hostile to Mr. Khalsa and other Sikh American employees. When Mr. Khalsa reported this discrimination to the hospital human resource office, they acknowledged the hostile work environment, but failed to discipline those responsible. Instead, hospital administration targeted Mr. Khalsa by suddenly implementing a no-beards policy in retaliation for his complaints, telling Mr. Khalsa he must either shave or lose his job. Mr. Khalsa suggested a reasonable compromise, offering to wear a larger respirator that would cover his facial hair while he administered aid, but this accommodation was refused without justification. Hospital administration continued this pattern of discrimination and retaliation until Mr. Khalsa was forced to the conclusion that PHS had no intention of making reasonable accommodations for his sincerely-held religious beliefs as required by law. He also concluded that PHS had no interest in truly addressing the toxic environment of workplace discrimination. Having exhausted every reasonable option, Mr. Khalsa was forced to resign in December 2010. “All I wanted was do my job helping people in my community get the urgent medical care they needed,” said Khalsa. “My Sikh religion did not prevent me from performing that job, but the prejudice of my supervisors did.” Mr. Khalsa contacted SALDEF last year and sought assistance in exercising his constitutional rights. “The actions of Española Hospital and Presbyterian Health Services are another example of the widespread and serious problem of workplace discrimination against Sikh Americans,” said Kavneet Singh, SALDEF Managing Director. “Every day, Sikh Americans face employment discrimination, hate crimes, school bullying, and harassment due to misconceptions about the Sikh identity. Religious intolerance is un-American and unacceptable. We commend Sahaj Singh Khalsa for not compromising his religious identity and demanding his constitutionally guaranteed civil rights.” Read Sahaj Khalsa’s full affidavit: Sahaj EEOC affidavit CONTACT: Micah McCoy, (505) 266-5915 Ext. 1003 or mmccoy@aclu-nm.org
