Ozarks Electric settles religious discrimination claim

A local electric cooperative has settled a federal religious discrimination lawsuit out of court for $95,000.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission represented an Ozarks Electric Cooperative employee, Julia Solis, who claimed she was denied a requested day off work to attend a Jehovah’s Witness convention and was then fired when she chose to attend the convention rather than report to work.

The commission contended Ozarks failed to provide Solis with a reasonable religious accommodation then fired her because of her religious beliefs in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Ozarks denied that it engaged in any unlawful employment practices or that it violated provisions of the civil rights act.

The consent decree settling the case does not constitute a finding on the merits of the case and does not constitute an admission by Ozarks, according to court documents.

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