A so-called “clean shave” policy for workers at shelters and gathering places in Toronto has been changed after some Sikh security guards reportedly lost their jobs for refusing to shave their beards.
An official from the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada confirmed the change to CP24 on Tuesday afternoon.
The City of Toronto shared the news in a statement released around 6 p.m
“Effective today, the City of Toronto will immediately allow ‘beard covers under a mask’ as a reasonable accommodation for individuals who maintain facial hair as a tenet of their faith and are required to attend City facilities with N95 respirator requirements.” This includes hired security guards at the city’s shelter locations,” they wrote.
The city said this “beard masking” technique, which is known as the Singh Tata method, applies a tight-fitting mask over a beard that covers the chin and cheeks and is tied in a knot at the top of the head. An N95 mask is then worn over the hood. This technique is used by many Sikhs in the medical community and has been found to be very effective in testing respirator fit, they said.
“This option was suggested by the World Sikh Organization of Canada and the city is grateful for this information. The city is also committed to follow-up meetings with the organization,” said the City of Toronto, which is also organizing “any delays in resolving this issue and ensuring that security contractors offer religious accommodations.”
That change comes after roughly 100 Sikh security guards employed by third parties were fired, transferred or had their shifts canceled for not following a city policy that required some employees to be clean-shaven to be properly equipped for N95 respirators.
“We received a call from Mayor Tory and he confirmed that the guards can return to their jobs and the city will work with the security contractors to make that possible. He also confirmed that the N95 will only be required when there is an outbreak,” Balpreet Singh, WSO spokesperson and legal advisor, told CP24 late this afternoon.
“There is only one such place, and there a latex or fabric cover can be used to cover the beard. This is indeed what we originally proposed.
The city policy previously applied to homeless services workers who came into contact with clients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, as well as in settings where there is a suspected or declared outbreak of the virus.
Singh had written a letter to Mayor John Tory and City Council members calling attention to the policy’s possible discriminatory effects on June 7.
However, weeks passed without any action being taken.
After several media reports on Monday, the city formally ordered its contractors to comply with its human rights and anti-harassment/discrimination policy and to provide fair conditions for its employees with religious exemptions.
Mayor John Tory also told reporters earlier on Tuesday that he would like to see the contractors involved – ASP Security Services, Garda World and Star Security – apologize.
“(These workers) deserve better than this. … There is always accommodation,” he said.
Among those affected by the interpretation of the policy was Birkawal Singh Anand, who was hired last spring to work security at a local recreation center.
During a July 4 interview with CTV Toronto, he said he recently received an email from his employer, ASP Security Services, telling him to shave off his beard or lose his job.
“Everyone’s freedom of speech and human rights are protected. For me, if I can’t follow my religion, it’s a disgusting thing, isn’t it,” said Anand, who likened shaving his facial hair to “skin peeling”.
To make matters worse, Anand said the accommodation offered to him by his employer, ASP Security Services, amounted to both a demotion and a reduction in salary.
He called the situation both “embarrassing and humiliating.”
ASP told CTV Toronto that they have tried to find accommodation for the affected workers.
Two other security companies that also have contracts with the city, Garda World and Star Security, did not comment on the matter.
Speaking to CTV Toronto late this afternoon, Anand said Tori called him and apologized for what happened. He said the mayor also promised that “everything will be back to normal.”
“This means he will restore all Sikh guards to their same positions and the same pay,” he said.
In its July 5 news release, the city reiterated that it “complies with all human rights law and requires all contractors to also comply with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy (HRAP) and all applicable rights laws of man.’
Any worker whose employment has been terminated is expected to be reinstated “immediately” and “appropriately compensated for any financial impact,” they noted.
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