News Notes: Worker Who Watches TV Church Services Claims Religious Discrimination

Tyson Foods has agreed to change its religious accommodation policies to settle Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charges that the Arkansas poultry processor discriminated against a worker who watched Sunday church services on television. Tyson fired Afton Bolen from his job as a fryer operator for refusing to come in on Sundays, despite its policy of excusing employees from Sunday work if they brought in written verification of church attendance. Bolen, who doesn’t belong to an organized church, couldn’t provide the required documentation because, he claimed, he worshiped on Sundays by viewing TV evangelism programs and listening to religious radio shows. Tyson agreed to pay Bolen $19,500 to settle the lawsuit.