Work and Religion

This article by the Associated Press, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWoGCd0hYk_hoCD99lSsl2q_zkkQD9C1N2D80, discusses the problem that arose for a Rastafarian TSA baggage screener for keeping his hair long for religious reasons. The judge ruled in favor of the screener and has scheduled a hearing for possible compensation.
I agree with the judge’s ruling, because a person should not have to decide between his job and his religion. But I don’t understand why the TSA hired the person in the first place if they the length of his hair was against “agency policy.” He was hired in 2002 and it was not until 2005 that he was told to cut his dreadlocks. The article did not mention if his hair grew longer during the 3 years. If the TSA was worried that his hair was obscuring their view of his work, they could’ve asked him to put his hair in some kind of net cap instead of asking him to cut it.