According to a city rule, security guards working at city shelter and respite sites must be clean-shaven — a requirement to be able to wear a tight-fitting N95 mask in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
To security guard Birkawal Singh Anand, being asked to shave his beard is akin to asking a non-Sikh to “peel off their skin.”
In a press release Monday night, the City said it has “directed these contractors to accommodate their employees who have requested religious exemptions and to reinstate any employee whose employment was terminated, immediately.”“The City is working directly with security guard companies contracted to its shelter system to ensure these accommodations are provided and no contract employee is unable to work as a result of public health masking directives,” the release stated.
He added: “I’ve been working for security companies the whole pandemic and I’ve never had this problem.”In a termination note seen by the Star, ASP wrote that while Anand’s accommodation request had been approved, “being clean-shaven is a mandatory requirement from the client,” in this case the City of Toronto.“At the same time, we are happy to inform you that weThe position: “Mask Enforcement Officer.
“In 1 day, we were deducted 198 billable hours because security guards were showing up to work without being clean shaven,” the email said. “Effective immediately, if you show up to work not clean shaven, you will be sent home immediately without pay.”
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