The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that if a woman doesn't want to wear pants to work, then that's perfectly OK. At least that's the case for a woman who was fired for refusing to wear pants as part of her work uniform.

Carol Grotts, a Pentecostal, was hired by Brink's in Peoria as a uniformed messenger. She told the company that her religious beliefs precluded her from wearing pants and she offered to buy culottes.

Brink's fired her, then hired her back, allowing her to wear culottes, after she filed a religious discrimination complaint with the EEOC.

Under a consent decree filed in federal court, Ms. Grotts will be paid $30,000 by Brink's, who will also pay Grotts' attorney fees and train its Peoria managers about religious discrimination.

"Grotts should not have been required to choose between respecting her religious beliefs and keeping her job with Brink's," EEOC attorney Richard J. Mrizek said.

Brink's had no comment.

Sources: Associated Press, Las Vegas Sun, 1-02-2003.

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