Kaliyma Jenkins went to work at Onslow Memorial Hospital last Friday, expecting her annual review, what she got, was fired.
The hospital says for violating their attendance policy, Jenkins says not quite.
“I was basically terminated because of my hijab,” said Jenkins.
A hijab, also known as an Islamic headdress, serves as a symbol of her belief in the Islamic faith.
“Remove your head cover or go home,” Jenkins said the hospital told her, “that's black and white discrimination.”
Jenkins says she was sent home from the hospital on June 14th, a few days later she was told she could return to work wearing her hijab. So why wear the head covering in the first place?
“It’s a part of what i believe, its a part of Kaliyma,” Jenkins answered. “So for you to say take it off or go home, basically you’re taking my image and saying we can’t allow that here.”
Nine on your side wanted to know if Jenkins’ story checked out, so we contacted the hospital with a request to review her personnel record.
The Vice President of Human Resources told us we needed signed documentation with Jenkins’ permission to view it. I got that documentation, in the form of a notarized letter. When i returned to the hospital meeting their requirements I was told they would only give me a statement and would not allow us to review Jenkins’ record, despite following their instruction.
In the statement, the hospital says Jenkins’ claims are unfounded. They say it was excessive absenteeism that cost Jenkins her job, claiming the headdress issue and her termination, "had nothing to do with each other.” All the while, still keeping her records under lock and key from Nine on Your Side to verify.
“It’s not just a coincidence, not in my book,” said Jenkins.
On June 30th, Jenkins called out of work with a doctor's note. She says the hospital told her it would be an unscheduled absence. According to hospital policy, an unscheduled absence is defined as an absence that is not pre-arranged or authorized, like requested vacation time. The policy states being sick with a doctor's note also may not constitute an excused absence.
So was Jenkins excessively absent? Looking at her personnel records would've answered that question but as long as the hospital continues to deny our request for an interview, that answer will remain behind the walls of Onslow Memorial.
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