Religious Accommodation Update

This proliferation of religion in the workplace is creating new challenges for employers. They increasingly are being inundated with requests for religious accommodations and progressively confronted with unexpected and awkward faith-related situations (i.e., proposals to form affinity groups and prayer breakfasts, employee e-mail sign-offs that quote Scripture, and proselytizing).

The number of religious accommodation requests and religious discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have risen sharply during the last decade, underscoring the growing pressure companies face to accommodate their employees' diverse religious views, practices, and expressions.

In fact, religious discrimination claims currently are the third-fastest growing discrimination claims behind disability-based claims and sexual harassment claims.

Read the rest of Lisa J. Teich's New York Employment Law Letter article on religion on the workplace.