Say Anything

Do citizens have a right to dress how they want to at work?

DEARBORN — Two Muslim women say the manager of a McDonald’s restaurant refused to hire them and insulted them during job interviews because they wear traditional Islamic dress.
Toi Whitfield, 20, of Detroit, and Quiana Pugh, 25, of Dearborn, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court against McDonald’s, the owner of the local franchise and its unnamed manager. Their representative said they are considering filing civil rights complaints with the federal and state governments.
“I applied for the McDonald’s position maybe two weeks ago and he simply (told me) I had to make a choice and remove my hijab, or I would not be able to establish employment there,” Pugh said. “When I walked away, I was definitely hurt by it and disturbed. I was confused that it could happen here in Dearborn, with so many Muslims.”

It seems to me that most employers have a dress code. If an employer decides that hats and headscarves and such will not be worn at work the employer has that right, no? It’s not discrimination if the dress code is evenly applied to all employees.
I think of it this way: I have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms per the second amendment. But if my employer were to say that I can’t wear my gun to work that would be perfectly ok. Because while I do have a right to keep and bear my gun, I don’t have a right to demand that my employer let me work while I’m wearing it.