Woman who wouldn't wear pants gets $30,000

CHICAGO -- A woman who was fired for refusing to wear pants as part of her work uniform will be paid $30,000 by her employer, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday.

Carol Grotts, a Pentecostal, was hired by Brink's in Peoria as a uniformed messenger. She told the company that her religious beliefs precluded her from wearing pants, and she offered to buy culottes.

Brink's fired her, then hired her back, allowing her to wear culottes, after she filed a religious discrimination complaint with the EEOC.

Under a consent decree filed in federal court, Brink's will also pay Grotts' attorney fees and train its Peoria managers about religious discrimination.

"Grotts should not have been required to choose between respecting her religious beliefs and keeping her job with Brink's," EEOC attorney Richard J. Mrizek said.

Brink's had no comment.