LOS ANGELES – Princess Cruises is being sued for religious discrimination by a woman who alleges she was forced to quit because the company denied her request to set aside time on two workdays each week to celebrate her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness, telling her they did not make accommodations for “this type of thing.”
Tonneishia Bradshaw’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit also alleges retaliation and wrongful constructive termination. She’s seeking unspecified damages in the complaint.
A Princess Cruises representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Bradshaw, 26, of Lancaster, was hired in November 2018 as a customer service representative and fulfilled all the terms and conditions of her employment, according to her court papers. She alleges that shortly after starting work, she told a Princess Cruises human resources representative that she needed two hours off from work on Sundays and Tuesdays due to her religious observances.
The representative replied, “You are going to have to take what we give you,” according to the suit, which says Bradshaw repeatedly stressed the importance of her religious obligations but was not given any accommodations.
The next month, Bradshaw contacted her direct supervisor and asked for the same accommodations for her religious obligations and also presented a letter from her church’s elders noting her religious duties, the suit states.
Bradshaw later received an email in response that said, “We do not make accommodations for this type of thing,” the suit alleges.
The plaintiff decided to quit because she “no longer felt comfortable working for (Princess) as a result of their religious discrimination and failure to accommodate (her) religious obligations,” the suit states. Her last day of work was in January 2019, the suit states.
Bradshaw has suffered emotional distress, anxiety, depression, headaches and tension and has incurred expenses for psychological counseling and treatment, the suit states.
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Alby says
What the hell? I didnt say that. Of all things I could crap on, Jehovahs Witness isnt on my agenda. Someones dumpin at my expense. Try using your own name you creepo.
Trump is a criminal says
Your hate-filled comment Alby tells us you’re “projecting” again.
Alby says
I’ll hate who I want. Don’t tell me I’m an idiot. I know already.
Iagree says
Beautifully said
Footsteps says
Suing has become a virus.
Tomas B. says
People love to conveniently use religion to get a payout. Nothing new.
Bea Uloa says
Bea says:
7/14/2020
Why you didn’t ask Jehova to help you get a new job instead of suing your employer?
Ron says
I played piano for Princess for about 8 years. Went to different rooms and played background. Best years of my life . Went to about 50 countries. Even played for Prince Andrew. They always had religious services. I dont remember Johova Witness, but Catholics, Christians, etc. I use to play for them. If you work in the tour office im sure when starting out you dont want to give them all kinds of demands. That wouldnt work very well anywhere. You want to work or not. You start a new job cant be too pickey.
Bruce says
I always wanted to work on a cruise ship as a dancer.
Ron says
Go online. Princess, Carnival, Holland America.
Mark says
Good on you Ms. Bradshaw! It’s complete [removed] that a Bermudan company can stroll into Santa Clarita and discriminate against Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any other protected class for that matter. Good luck, and give’em (a non-literal) Hell.
cb says
I was a nurse for 35 years, which entailed working nights, evenings, finally days and also every other weekend along with alternating holidays. This was my chosen career, I didn’t like working nights, weekends or holidays, but I never once thought of suing my employer because of this uncomfortable part of the job! If a job isn’t what you thought it would be…move on! Really…suing???
Jesus can't save us now says
Some people like to foist their beliefs on others by going around and ringing their doorbells. Can we sue them?
Religion has been a problem since forever and it’s getting worse in this country while fewer people are actually attending services. I guess it’s their last gasp to demand their way way or they’ll sue. Why not leave it up to God like they do everything else?
Laughing says
I like to answer the door in different ways. Most of the time I am polite and tell them I am a non-believer and they go their way. Other times I engage in conversation about the different belief systems and the similarities and differences. Always on the porch, never inside. As a teen I would flip the cross (Catholic upbringing mostly) upside down and answer the door, it showed over my shoulder very clearly. Then there are the days I do not want to interact at all, I look through the peep hole and quietly muse how long it will take for the parties to walk away, and make a bet as to if I will have to open the door to remove the pamphlet.
Jesus can't save us now says
You can always tell them you’re a Scientologist and begin THAT conversation.
I usually take a phone with me pressed to my ear as I answer the door. “Sorry. Can’t talk. Long distance.”
Laughing says
Funny story time…
As a teen, worked in bookstore, brought home Dianetics. Got yelled at by dad for bringing that into our Catholic home.
25 years later, father retires from own business, now works full time at LA Org of Scientology!
Not to mention any chance at inheritance… gone.
I did not drink the kool-aid but he drowned in it.
cb says
Ooohhh…suing the JW religion for all those times they crossed my personal homeowner boundaries and tried to push their religion on me…something I hadn’t thought of before reading this story!