Vegetarianism is a religious belief under Title VII according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determination in the case of a vegetarian bus driver who refused to personally distribute coupons for free hamburgers to his passengers.
Religion is defined under Title VII as "includ[ing] moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views." Bruce Anderson, the bus driver, adopted a strict vegetarian diet for ethical reasons and eschews all products tested on animals as well. The coupons were to be distributed on four designated dates. Accomodations reportedly suggested by Anderson included assigning him to desk duty on those four dates or providing him with a basket from which customers could take their own coupons. The OCTA reportedly declined to make those accomodations, first suspending and later terminating Anderson.
