Jewish hairdresser, employer go head to head

MONTREAL – A Jewish hairdresser said his Jewish boss refused to let him work on Saturdays, because it is the Sabbath.

After being fired in 2012 from Spa Ora Zen on Queen Mary Street, Richard Zilberg filed a human rights complaint with the help of the Centre for Research Action on Race Relations (CRARR).

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“I am proud to be Jewish, but no one has the right to tell someone how to express their spirituality,” Zilberg told Global News.

The Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission recommended Zilberg be paid $20,000 in material and punitive damages.

Iris Gressly, the owner of Spa Liv Zen – formerly Spa Ora Zen, disputed Zilberg’s claims.

“It’s just sad because it’s all fabricated,” said Gressly.

Gressly insisted she has other Jewish staff that work on Saturdays and she removed Zilberg from the Saturday schedule due to a personality conflict with another staff member.