Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. United Parcel Service

McKAY, Circuit Judge.

Mr. Jerome Patterson, a package delivery driver for the United Parcel Service, filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission challenging UPS’ “no-beard” policy. UPS had, and still maintains, an express policy that employees in public contact positions cannot wear beards. Mr. Patterson suffers from pseu-dofolliculitis barbare (“PFB”), a skin condition, both painful and disfiguring, which affects approximately twenty-five percent of the black male population. The sole treatment for his condition is to refrain from shaving. Mr. Patterson supplied…