Employer faces discrimination demand after assuming applicant was Muslim
A cleaning company faces a SEK 50,000 compensation demand after rejecting a woman’s job enquiry because it assumed she was Muslim from her name, Sweden’s Equality Ombudsman says.
The woman contacted the company in western Sweden about work. In the email exchange, the employer asked whether she was a radical Muslim, then referred to a previous experience with another person. She received no further response about employment.
In its assessment, announced on Wednesday, the Equality Ombudsman, or DO, says the woman was prevented from progressing in recruitment solely because of an assumed religious affiliation linked to her name.
The protection applies whether an employer’s assumption about someone’s religion is correct or not, DO says. The authority does not identify the woman’s religion.
The company has until 17 November to respond to the demand. DO may then take the case to the Labour Court. The SEK 50,000 is compensation the authority is seeking, not damages already awarded by a court.
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