As a California voter, I am writing to you to ask you to take immediate action against ongoing discrimination by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Beginning in February, CDCR changed its grooming policy to force all peace officers--including those with preexisting medical and religious accommodations--to shave their beards. Since the rollout of this new policy, hundreds of peace officers have submitted requests to renew those medical and religious accommodations, but all have been delayed or denied. In the interim, these peace officers have had to either shave under duress or use their sick days, vacation time, or unpaid time off while awaiting a response; many were told they’d be subject to a demotion or face termination if they did not comply. This policy significantly and adversely impacts religious and racial minority groups, including Sikh, Muslim, Black, and other peace officers who require the religious or medical beard accommodations.
CDCR claims that it must require peace officers to be clean-shaven to comply with Cal/OSHA’s Title 8 respiratory regulations to wear tight fitting N95 respirators. However, according to individuals and organizations that are representing CDCR clients, including the Sikh Coalition, the ACLU of Northern California, Church State Council, and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA); the Stanford Law Religious Liberty Clinic; and prominent employment attorney and former President of the California Employment Lawyers Association Wendy Musell. Title 8, California civil rights laws, and federal anti-discrimination provisions requires CDCR to provide adequate respirators for all employees *based on individual employees’ needs, accommodations* and applicable safety standards. Numerous alternative respirators are available for bearded peace officers, as evidenced by the fact that Sikh, Muslim, Black, and other individuals with facial hair are employed in a wide variety of fields that require such respirators. Unfortunately, CDCR has chosen not to provide those accommodations despite their legal obligations to do so.
I believe that all people--regardless of their race or faith--have the right to do their jobs with dignity, and that no one should have to sacrifice their religious beliefs or suffer physical harm because their employer won’t provide them with a simple accommodation. If you agree, I ask that you join concerned Californians across our state in calling on CDCR to end this discriminatory policy and accommodate peace officers by allowing them to resume their duties unshaven and with the appropriate equipment.
If you have questions about Title 8, CDCR’s policy change, or the conditions of affected peace officers, I encourage you to reach out to the Sikh Coalition at advocacy@sikhcoalition.org. I thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter, and greatly appreciate you standing up for the rights of all in our state.
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