CEO asked to step down after software firm forced employee to resign for wearing hijab

I cannot work at a company that does not match my values, says the employee who has turned down the offer

KARACHI: A software company that allegedly forced a female staffer to resign for "wearing hijab" has taken back its decision following severe backlash on the social media.

Subsequently, in one of its Facebook posts, the firm asked its CEO to step down "for workplace discrimination".

Moreover, the company not only apologised to the employee, A*, but also asked her to continue – an offer she turned down immediately.

A* was hired at Creative Chaos as an associate talent acquisition officer earlier this week. Two days after she started working at the company, her line manager Manzar Ahmed allegedly informed her that she cannot continue her job if she wears the hijab.

Ahmad further stated that he was unable to do anything in the matter, which then prompted A* to approach the chief executive officer (CEO). A* then asked why they had hired her if they would later have problems with her attire.



"I accept that we made a mistake in hiring you. We don't hire people like this, not even 'religious men' on our front end as it gives the wrong image," was the answer she reportedly received.

"When you go to universities for campus drives and people see you in hijab, it will stereotype our company," the CEO added.

"We want to be known for being a workplace where you have complete freedom, where we play songs all day," the CEO reportedly said and added that she should apply to [other] organisations… because she'll be "better suited there".

A* was then asked to submit her resignation. When she asked for a written reason, none was provided. She was also threatened with legal action as her "career would be ruined".

In their defence, an apology letter signed by the CEO was posted on the company's Facebook page.

The letter states that the company has a zero-tolerance policy against any kind of discrimination adding that they had suspended the manager.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, the CEO said they were "investigating the matter".

A* confirmed the company had apologised to her and asked her for a meeting while also informing her that she could continue working and withdraw her resignation. She said she has refused to do so.

"I cannot work at a company that does not match my values and where discrimination on the basis of religion takes place, where rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan are not upheld."

Others have come forth to corroborate A*'s experience. Shamilah Rashid, who worked at Creative Chaos for two years started off as a trainee and worked her way up to the post of community manager.

"I took many interviews at Creative Chaos for various positions and in one instance, there was a girl who came in and gave a fantastic interview. I recommended her but when I followed up later I was told by the HR department that she does not fit into the company's culture and they're not hiring her."

"When I asked them to elaborate, they said it's because she wears an abaya and would have a hard time fitting in." Rashid added that the whole HR department endorsed the thinking of not hiring girls in religious attire.

"I pressed on and pointed out two of my friends who wore hijabs and were at the organisation," Rashid added and said she was told that one of them was in the back office and does not interact with clients directly and the other was from the US so she was "progressive and open-minded."



Rashid, according to her, was also told by the HR department that it was not a documented policy but "it's just not acceptable".

"They said because she'll be interviewing candidates and it's not the image they want portrayed," Rashid said.

"I left it at that but told a few of my female colleagues who were outraged as well. Sadly we never raised a major issue over it but that's the last interview I took there."

(The name of the employee has been withheld for editorial reasons)