In 2005, Shaheed Kahn, a Muslim and a crew trainer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Fresno, asked the company if he could grow a beard for religious reasons. His request was denied. The company ultimately terminated Kahn’s employment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Kahn’s former employer, McDonald’s Restaurants of California Inc. The EEOC alleged that the actions of one of the defendant’s Fresno establishments constituted religious discrimination. The EEOC noted Khan had worked at the restaurant since 2001 and was promoted to crew trainer in 2003. Thus, it claimed that Khan’s request to grow a beard led to his constructive discharge in 2005. The EEOC contended that such conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires that employees make reasonable accommodations to the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees and applicants, as long as the accommodations cause no harm to the business. McDonald’s denied all of the EEOC’s allegations., The EEOC sought recovery of compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of Khan.