Taking action against workplace discrimination

(Sacramento, CA) -- Today, the Sikh Coalition is joining with our allies in California and sangat members across the state to take action against workplace discrimination.

Beginning February 1, 2023, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) rolled out a discriminatory policy across all its institutions that forces bearded peace officers, including Sikhs and others who previously had religious and medical accommodations, to immediately shave or face disciplinary action up to and including termination. Since then, hundreds of requests to renew those medical and religious accommodations have been delayed or denied. In the interim, these peace officers have been forced to shave or use sick, vacation, and/or unpaid leave while waiting for a response, and many have been told they’d be subject to a demotion or face termination if they did not comply.

The Sikh Coalition, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC), Church State Council, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations--California (CAIR-CA), has been advocating for these officers' rights and protesting this policy through a series of meetings and correspondence with CDCR beginning in February. Additionally, we have co-counseled with the Stanford Law Religious Liberty Clinic and the Law Offices of Wendy Musell to represent individual clients as we continue to fight for their rights to maintain their faith and health while working in any CDCR institutions.

“This policy is a clear and ongoing infringement of bearded peace officer’s civil rights,” said Amreen Bhasin, Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney. “The policy must be reviewed, the interactive process it requires must be meaningfully conducted, and CDCR must provide personal protective equipment alternatives that allow for peace officers to maintain beards for religious and medical reasons while keeping themselves and others safe.”

In addition to providing this pro bono legal support, we are asking the California sangat to assist us in rallying the state’s elected officials to demand accountability and action from CDCR. Starting today, California sangat members can take action by sending a pre-written letter to numerous relevant legislative and executive officials to ask them to call on CDCR to end their discriminatory policy and accommodate Sikh, Muslim, Black, and other peace officers now. Our advocacy team remains in close contact with legislative allies who are working on this issue, including State Sen. David Cortese (D-SD15).

The Sikh Coalition legal team submitted an amicus brief in the Groff v. DeJoy case, which was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in mid-April. The issue revolves on the Title VII standard by which employers are required to provide reasonable religious accommodations for employees. Sikh Coalition attorneys were interviewed as experts on workplace discrimination and religious accommodations matters by several news outlets, including the Boston Globe.

The Sikh Coalition legal team was invited to speak to students and faculty at both Stanford University Law School and Harvard University Law School on the pro bono collaborative process between non-profit law firms and law school clinics. The discussions included advising students on how best to approach such co-counseling relationships, and navigating the civil rights space. 

The legal team is proud to announce that two summer interns will be working with us for the summer of 2023! Both are passionate about civil rights issues, and we look forward to training them on our work!