A job seeker sporting a prominent face tattoo has initiated a $50,000 lawsuit in Multnomah County against a convenience store chain. The applicant alleges that the company’s refusal to hire him was discriminatory, citing his facial tattoo as the reason for denial.
Christopher La Caze claims in his lawsuit that the job denial constitutes religious discrimination. He states that his Celtic knot tattoo, which spans his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, is a representation of his animist religion. Animism is defined as the belief that spirits or souls inhabit all things, including inanimate objects like plants, animals, and rocks.
[Bài viết gốc] mentions and links to La Caze’s LinkedIn page, which features a picture of him and his tattoo.
The lawsuit details that La Caze applied for a cashier position at a Jacksons Food Stores location. While the specific store is not named in the suit, it states that a hiring manager initially offered La Caze the job. However, this offer was contingent on La Caze applying for a religious exemption for his face tattoo. Subsequently, the hiring manager allegedly rescinded the offer, informing La Caze that he could not be hired due to the tattoo.
Jacksons Food Stores spokesperson, Shane Wright, stated that the company is unable to comment on the specifics of La Caze’s allegations due to the ongoing litigation.
“However,” Wright stated via email, “we are proud of our company’s unwavering commitment to providing accommodations for individuals with religious beliefs.”
Wright clarified the company’s policy regarding face and head tattoos, stating that employees are required to cover them while on duty. Acceptable methods for covering tattoos include makeup, face masks, or other accessories. Wright added that the company is willing to collaborate with employees if the size or placement of their tattoos makes complete coverage impossible.
Furthermore, Wright emphasized that Jacksons Food Stores currently employs individuals with face tattoos in Oregon and other states.
This Idaho-based chain operates over 300 stores across the western United States, with 33 locations in the Portland area alone.
Recent years have seen a shift in corporate tattoo policies, with major employers like Disney and UPS relaxing previously strict rules requiring employees to cover all tattoos. This change reflects both the challenges of worker shortages and the increasing societal acceptance of tattoos as a mainstream form of personal expression. Starbucks, for example, permits tattoos as long as they are not on the face or throat and are not deemed “obscene, profane, racist, or sexual.” Similarly, the Portland Police Bureau largely prohibits visible face or neck tattoos that cannot be easily concealed, while hand and wrist tattoos require assistant chief approval.
The intersection of workplace tattoo policies and employees’ religious beliefs remains a relatively unexplored area. La Caze’s lawsuit highlights this gap, stating that after his job denial at Jacksons Food Stores, his inquiry about the status of his religious exemption was met with silence. According to the suit, the employee he contacted “would not talk about it” and ended the call.
La Caze is seeking damages to compensate for lost wages and emotional distress resulting from the alleged discrimination.
This case underscores the evolving dialogue around workplace appearance standards, religious freedom, and the growing prevalence of tattoos in contemporary society. As businesses adapt to changing social norms and labor market pressures, legal challenges like La Caze’s lawsuit may prompt further reflection on the balance between corporate policy and individual rights.
