Grocer Aldi Cleared in Pennsylvania Discrimination Suit

A federal jury in Pittsburgh has cleared discount grocer Aldi Inc. of discriminating against an employee’s religious rights.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Aldi in 2006, saying the Batavia, Ill., chain refused to let Kimberly Bloom, who worked in its Farmington, Fayette County, store have Sundays off.

Bloom describes herself as a Protestant who observes the Sabbath and believes she isn’t supposed to work that day.

On Friday, the jury found that while Bloom’s beliefs were sincere, Aldi had tried to accommodate her.

An Aldi attorney says the store allowed her to trade shifts and offered to schedule her around services.

Bloom, a part-time cashier, was fired in February 2006 after missing two Sunday shifts.