The Chicago office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers because it required its switchboard operators to greet callers with a cheerful "happy holidays" from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. Operator Ninette Smith claimed this constituted a breach of her religious freedom, and the EEOC agreed.

"'Happy holidays' is generally considered a generic term in our business," said Ellen Butler, spokeswoman for the hotel. "We use it because it doesn't mention any holidays specifically by name."

Nonplussed by Smith's complaint, the hotel management nevertheless tried to accommodate her. "We told her she could just say, 'Greetings,' " says Butler. When asked how this impinged on Smith's religious freedom, EEOC regional attorney John Hendrickson told the Chicago Tribune, "They only wanted her to say it during the Christmas season, so it is a violation."

†