Job-seeker sues after being told he doesn't have the "Disney look"

[Dope Nose]

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/572681.html

Davie man sues Disney for discrimination
A Davie man is suing Disney, alleging that he was denied a job at Disney World because of his Sikh religion.
BY JAWEED KALEEM
[email protected]

Sukhbir Channa says that when he applied to be a trumpet player at Disney World, he was told he didn't fit the ''Disney look'' and would not be hired. The trumpet performance junior at the University of South Florida was seeking a job during the 2006 holiday season.

On Monday, Channa, 24, of Davie said he has filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging the company discriminated against him because of his turban and bushy beard -- requirements of his Sikh religion. The suit was filed in Tampa, where the university is located and where the hiring process took place, and seeks $1 million in punitive damages.

Disney denies any wrongdoing. ''We value and respect diversity with our cast members,'' said Jacquee Polak, a Disney spokeswoman. She added that Disney has no record of Channa applying for a job in the fall of 2006, when the suit claims the discrimination occurred.

Channa's attorney, Matthew Sarelson, said he has an affidavit from a witness who says he heard a Disney supervisor say that Channa ''did not fit the Disney image,'' and that it was clear the supervisor was ``referring to Channa's beard and turban.''

''I was specifically told that I was qualified for the gig,'' Channa said Monday, but ``they told me anything that involved me being seen by the audience wasn't possible.''

The job would have involved him playing the trumpet as a street musician, sometimes in a head-to-toe toy soldier costume. Channa previously was hired by Disney for the costumed job during his winter break in 2005, but he didn't perform as a noncostumed street musician that year.

''Sikhs believe all human beings are created equal,'' said Rajdeep Jolly, a lawyer for the Washington, D.C.-based Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is rallying behind the suit. There are about 500,000 Sikhs in the United States who are followers of the 15th century Indian guru Nanak and his successor gurus.

''If Disney is regarded as an iconic American company, what is an American supposed to look like?'' Jolly said.

 

[terry78]

Just stick him in the Aladdin parade and be done with it.

 

[Kable24]

''If Disney is regarded as an iconic American company, what is an American supposed to look like?'' Jolly said.

WASP...just my guess at what the interviewer was thinking.

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

Disney is very specific about its appearance requirements. even masked characters can't have beards

 

[jaguarr]

Just stick him in the Aladdin parade and be done with it.

jag

 

[Leto Atrides]

Disney denies any wrongdoing. ''We value and respect diversity with our cast members,'' said Jacquee Polak, a Disney spokeswoman. She added that Disney has no record of Channa applying for a job in the fall of 2006, when the suit claims the discrimination occurred.

Channa's attorney, Matthew Sarelson, said he has an affidavit from a witness who says he heard a Disney supervisor say that Channa ''did not fit the Disney image,'' and that it was clear the supervisor was ``referring to Channa's beard and turban.''

This whole thing seems pretty sketchy and vague.

 

[Damien Rage]

2006? ok it's now 2008...wtf? Seriously...you have to look like a Disney clone. I know I used to work for the rat...I mean mouse. Mustaches were only recently allowed.

 

[Nirvana]

That's strange. Disney is seriously one of the easiest jobs to get, ever. I applied last summer and got the job easily, they interview you but it's so incredibly easy (decided not to work there). Like after the interview you do the hiring process. But any ways, Disney is incredibly strict about facial hair, hair in general really. Hair cannot touch the ears, you cannot have a beard and are expected to be clean shaven every day, and if you have a mustache it has be fully grown by the time of hire or fully grown if you go on a vacation.

 

[terry78]

Facial hair = not the innocent, unassuming pretty boy look associated with Disney males. When was the last time a Disney hero from an animated flick had a 'stache?

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

weird. I wouldn't get in, I look stoopid without my stubble.

Perhaps they associate hairiness with child ticklers?

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

Facial hair = not the innocent, unassuming pretty boy look associated with Disney males. When was the last time a Disney hero from an animated flick had a 'stache?

Stretches brain........NEVAH!

They did have the Beast that was hairy, but he lost his hair as his reward lol.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Disney isn't the only place that doesn't allow beards. Plenty of stores don't.

 

[jaguarr]

That's strange. Disney is seriously one of the easiest jobs to get, ever. I applied last summer and got the job easily, they interview you but it's so incredibly easy (decided not to work there). Like after the interview you do the hiring process. But any ways, Disney is incredibly strict about facial hair, hair in general really. Hair cannot touch the ears, you cannot have a beard and are expected to be clean shaven every day, and if you have a mustache it has be fully grown by the time of hire or fully grown if you go on a vacation.

Let me guess; you're a clean-shaven white kid from the suburbs, not a Sikh with a beard and a turban?

jag

 

[Nirvana]

Let me guess; you're a clean-shaven white kid from the suburbs, not a Sikh with a beard and a turban?

jag

Haha, hell no. My hair is long (at the time of the interview it was short), I am Italian mixed with Polish, Honduran, and Irish aka I have a tan, I have a mustache and I haven't shaved since sunday so I have deep five o clock shadow. Disney has awesome benefits, its just the guidelines for hairstyles and facial hair are absurd. One of the reasons I chose not to work there.

 

[jaguarr]

Haha, hell no. My hair is long (at the time of the interview it was short) I have a mustache and I haven't shaved since sunday so I have deep five o clock shadow. Disney has awesome benefits, its just the guidelines for hairstyles and facial hair are absurd. One of the reasons I chose not to work there.

So your hair was short when you interviewed. Were you clean shaven for the interview as well, or did you have a fully grown moustache already per their rules?

jag

 

[AndThePickles]

Sounds like this guy didn't have a right to sue at all. Just shouldn't be applying for a job with a clean-shaven requirement if he can't shave his facial hair due to religion.

 

[Nirvana]

Um, well like I said that was last summer but I did have a mustache that was coming in (not fully there yet) and I don't believe I shaved because I remember my dad telling me that it was unprofessional.

 

[jaguarr]

Um, well like I said that was last summer but I did have a mustache that was coming in (not fully there yet) and I don't believe I shaved because I remember my dad telling me that it was unprofessional.

Very well, I accept your apology.

jag

 

[Apollo]

I never been to Disney World....

and I Hate you All!!!