LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Justice Department settled a lawsuit alleging that the county’s transportation authority refused to accommodate a bus driver who requested time off to observe Jewish holidays, according to the Associated Press. The complaint, filed last year, accused the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority of enforcing an unreasonable policy requiring drivers to always be available for work. It further alleged that the agency refused to consider limited exceptions to the rules. Under the settlement, the MTA’s 5,000 drivers who are assigned shifts that conflict with their religious commitments can take up to 30 days of unpaid leave while waiting for a favorable shift to open up, according to the Associated Press. Drivers can bid on routes and shifts twice a year, with preference given to those with seniority.
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