Woman asked to resign for not sticking to dress code

An employee of a leading car dealership has registered a complaint at Powai police station against her employers stating that the management asked her to quit the job for not adhering to their dress code According to Ghatkopar resident Mehak Pathan 28 she was asked to report to work wearing a skirt or trouser with a shirt instead of the salwar kameez that she preferred to wear When she refused to toe the line the management asked her to resign Mehak Pathan is employed at the car showroom as a telephone operator since May 21 2010 After discussing the issue with her husband Salim Pathan Mehak registered a noncognisable complaint copy available with MiD DAY at Powai police station on March 29 and also drafted letters to several government ministers complaining against Kailash Joshi finance head Administration and Sunil Drsquosouza vice president HRManager of Linkway Honda a division of Auto Hangar India Pvt which has its office at SakiVihar Road Andheri East Employed at the car showroom as a telephone operator since May 21 2010 Mehak said that Joshi and Sunil had been tormenting her for the past 20 days telling her that her outfit was inappropriate and that she should wear a skirt and top The two alleged that it is a part of the dress code Mehak asked them to provide in writing that the rule is part of the job following which the duo refused to do so As Mehak refused to adhere to their terms they asked her to resign she added ldquoI am an Indian Muslim woman I cannot wear a skirttop or jeanstshirt to keep their customers happy and hence I refused following which they forced me to resign I complained to the police and the ministers requesting them to save my jobrdquo Mehak said Mehak has complained in writing to the chief minister labour minister child and women welfare minster and minorities development and wakf minister asking them to initiate action against Joshi and Drsquosouza ldquoMy wife is undergoing mental trauma She cannot wear a dress just to keep the customers happy They failed to produce dress code norms or companyrsquos policy to wear a skirt or pantrdquo said Salim Mehakrsquos husband Showing their support for her cause Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi president of the JamaiteUlemae Maharashtra said ldquoWe appreciate Mehakrsquos stand Wearing a skirttop or jeanstshirt is not part of Hindustani culture but that of western world culture The company should be concerned with her work and not her dress We will fight her legal battle in this caserdquo The other side ldquoEverybody is equal in my company They are bound by the companyrsquos norms We cannot compromise with companyrsquos policy We asked Mehak to wear uniform as per company rulesrdquo said Kailash Joshi Finance Head Administration ldquoOur company runs on certain norms Uniform is company and employment policy We suggested her to wear the uniform We never forced or demanded her resignation We are not aware about police complaint She is not attending duty We will call her and the issue will be resolved smoothlyrdquo said Sunil Drsquosouza vice president HR Manager of Linkway Honda ldquoIn order to create synergies across our ATL BTL amp retail initiatives all Honda dealers have informed their staff to follow a dress code at their outlets nationally However if any employee cannot adhere to the same due to hisher religious sentiments the company respects that and is open to work out an alternate solutionrdquo said a spokesperson of Honda