The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith has approved the personnel policies of the Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of this city, which has been upheld by a New Jersey court on its contention that it does not discriminate against employees on the grounds of race, religion or color.
The company had been sued by Shaena Temmelman, an 18-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl, who claimed she was dismissed because she insisted on taking time off for religious reasons. The firm claimed that its personnel policies had been previously drawn up in consultation with the ADL, and fully “respect” religious tradition and “differing observances and customs. ” Today, the corporation issued a statement from the ADL, declaring:
“Some years ago, the Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, with our cooperation, established a code of personnel practice which we believe conforms to the spirit of democratic thinking. The company’s code outlaws discrimination among its employees on the grounds of race, creed or color; and our inquiries confirm that representatives of all faiths and creeds are on the staff and management of Ortho. The facts show that the company’s employment policies include safeguards against discrimination. The Ortho policy recognizes the importance of religious holidays of the various faiths.
“Our inquiries further show that the company enjoys an excellent reputation in the field of intergroup relations. In our opinion, its policy on religious observance is near ideal.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
