The Williamsburg Hometown IGA is being sued by the EEOC for alleged religious discrimination.

The federal agency claims in the lawsuit that the grocery store refused to hire a man due to his religious beliefs. This would be a violation of federal discrimination law.

According to the lawsuit, the grocery store refused to hire a man due to his Rastafarian dreadlock hairstyle. The man, Matthew Barnett, applied for the Assistant Manager position at the Williamsburg IGA. When Barnett was interviewed for the job, he was told by management that it would be required for him to cut his dreadlocks in order to work at the store. Barnett Informed management that the dreadlocks are worn because of his religion and he would not cut them off. The interview ended immediately and the IGA refused to hire him.

Religious discrimination is a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Title VII requires employers to make an effort to reasonably accommodate honest religious beliefs and practices. The lawsuit was filed after the EEOC exhausted its conciliation efforts to reach a pre-litigation settlement with the grocery store.