New York – An Orthodox Jewish paramedic is suing a New York hospital for discrimination for not allowing her to wear skirts.
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In the civil suit filed Tuesday, Hadas Goldfarb says she was offered a job as a paramedic at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2015, but was terminated amid orientation after refusing to comply with the dress code, which stipulates that paramedics wear pants. The 26-year-old Brooklyn resident alleges in a complaint that her “termination was unlawful retaliation for her refusing to compromise her religious principles.”
Goldfarb only wears skirts, a practice common among Orthodox Jewish women who follow strict rules dictating personal dress. She says she has done so while working as a paramedic for other employers.
Following her termination, Goldfarb filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in February, she received a notice of right to sue.
The lawsuit, which was filed with Kings County Supreme Court, alleges that the hospital failed to provide her with reasonable accommodation for her religious observance and that doing so is discriminatory and illegal. Along with New York Presbyterian Hospital, the City of New York is named in the suit; its Fire Department works with the hospital on emergency response.
Goldfarb is suing for damages, the reinstatement of her position, and an order enjoining the hospital and the city to stop denying requests for accommodation in relation to the pants policy.
The hospital did not return requests for comment by JTA.
Goldfarb said she was surprised by the hospital’s response to her request to wear a skirt.
“I’ve been an EMS for a while and I haven’t had a problem — I just wasn’t expecting it to be an issue,” she told JTA.
She has since found a job as a paramedic for an emergency telemedicine company, which does not take issue with her style of dress.
Her lawyer, Joseph Aron, told JTA that he was confident in his client’s case, citing previous cases in which U.S. courts ruled in favor of plaintiffs suing for the right to wear head coverings or style their facial hair in ways contrary to employer dress codes.
“We’re definitely confident that the law is on our side,” said Aron, who specializes in employment law and discrimination.
The case resonates personally with Aron, an Orthodox father of three young girls.
“[W]hen they grow up, and they get a job with something that they are passionate about, they shouldn’t have to make sacrifices in a scenario where the job could be done as is how they are accustomed to dressing, [and] it doesn’t injure their ability to perform,” he said, referring to his daughters.
oh com off it hadas. you knew very well before you took on the job that there is a dress code
Very hard to work in an ambulance or any emergency vehicles and have a skirt, because you are in and out of the ambulance and if it is windy or rainy she would be too busy trying to hold her skirt down and if she doesn’t keep on holding her skirt you will see all of her, which is even more against the religion. This does not help the injured she is trying to help for she will be taking care of herself rather then the patient and endangering the people with her.
Stop with these stupid lawsuits. Every company and business should be allowed to have their own rules and regulations which employees need to follow. Enough of individuals ramming their wants down others’ throats.
She could wear a skirt over pants. Just saying.
at the scathing comments. But I have to say, you make good points about those skirts & mobility climbing in and out of ambulances. Anyway, she has a job, why would she want to work in a hostile environment?
Maybe whoever gave Ivanka & Jared a heter to fly on Shabbos can give Ms. Goldfarb one to wear pants. But she will win in court, especially if Muslim EMT’s can wear hijabs which can flap around & cause a problem.
1,2 and 3. had it been a muslim you stick up for her rights all the way!
Dear #9 I would say the same about the Muslim as I would a Jew or a Christian, or any other religion, person, etc. you can not work with a skirt and get in and out of an ambulance without it blowing up and showing your all, as a head covering over a persons will also get in the way of working with sick and injured person , I was a medical personnel I know the conditions of emergencies the patient comes first.
No mezuzah rule at an apt building was held to be constructive discrimination. Same thing here.
I know a Catholic girl that taught in a boy’s Yeshiva in Monsey and was told she couldn’t wear pants. (She complied with the request). Is that discrimination?
I really can’t fathom what all of you haters are hating on. Here we have a frum woman who went through a rigorous training program, wants to work in a helping profession, and wants to do so with reasonable accommodations. Accommodations that she has been granted in previous employment positions. Regarding all of the concerns of a potential “upskirt” situation, relax pervies. I am sure she will figure out a way to wear a skirt in an appropriate way, probably because she has been doing that for 20 years already! Why are we not FULLY supporting this woman? With all the screams for tzniyus I would imagine every person here would applaud her desire to maintain her religious convictions. I for one applaud here convictions, and encourage her employer to offer a reasonable accommodation. Good for you for wanting to uphold your religious conviction! Enough with the unfortunately predictable negativity. Just say something nice, or say nothing at all. On that note, I wish all the haters a refuah sheleima bekorov.
Like said above she could where pants with a skirt on top. The hospital should had told her that. They are not accommodating while if was a Muslim they would have been afraid not to accommodate. I don’t like the law suit but the hospital has to be realistic. The reason why she is fight for 2 reasons one probably the hours and pay were better and second to stop discrimination in the work place
It would appear to me that since she is an EMT, and touches patients et all – i find her suit an example of our litiginous (?) society – she should have checked out all the requirements before hand, and most of all – if she goes to an accident, or fire she would be better protected in pants. – and one may say that the pants are ‘pikuach nefesh’ saving her from undo spills, or whatever the person she attends has.