Tag: religious accommodation

Faithfully expecting: religious accommodations and employer-mandated vaccination policies

By New Hampshire Employment Law Letter Oct 14, 2012 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Oct 14, 2012

An “informal discussion letter” from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) indicates that employers should carefully weigh religious objections by pregnant employees, specifically in the context of employer-mandated vaccination policies. Background In February 2012, a healthcare provider wrote the EEOC requesting a formal interpretation of the application of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act […]

The most homogenous place on Earth?

By California Employment Law Letter Sep 16, 2012 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Sep 16, 2012

by Mark I. Schickman Remembering that employment discrimination has been illegal for less than 50 years, workplace accommodation has come a long way. The first accommodation laws protected people with cancer, back when cancer was feared to be contagious. The law was put to the test when it was applied to protect people infected with […]

Religious Time-Off Requests: Accommodation vs. Productivity and Fairness

By Tammy Binford Apr 2, 2012 HR Hero Line

Updated: Apr 2, 2012

Despite a trend toward employers embracing flexibility in the workplace as a way to improve work-life balance, most employers have expectations related to their employees’ schedules. In some workplaces, rigid schedules aren’t necessary as long as the work gets done. In others, shifts are firm and when someone needs time off, a request is made […]

Praying in the Workplace

By Diversity Insight Aug 14, 2011 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Aug 14, 2011

A recent case from the federal trial court in Gulfport, Mississippi, dealt with a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who claimed she was discriminated against based on religion. She alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and fired for reporting religious harassment. The court discussed some interesting points in its decision. Facts Shira […]

Dress Code Considerations for a Diverse Workforce

By Diversity Insight Jul 17, 2011 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Jul 17, 2011

By Carolyn A. Wade Society’s standards (or lack thereof) regarding clothing and grooming have certainly changed over the last 50 years. Taking a trip on an airplane used to mean “dressing up” and wearing the kind of clothes you would wear to church ― a suit and tie or a dress and heels. Now people […]

Dwight. Pray. Love.

By Brian Kurtz Jun 16, 2011 That's What She Said

Updated: Jun 16, 2011

Litigation Value: $0.00.  But Dwight needs to put at least $20 in the collection plate. Sometimes The Office does not take place in the office. Such was the case in this week’s repeat broadcast of “Christening,” which takes place on a Sunday at Jim’s and Pam’s church. As guests file in, Dwight Schrute hands out […]

Religious Accommodation Versus Gender Equality

By Dominique Launay Apr 12, 2010 Northern Exposure

Updated: Apr 12, 2010

By Dominique Launay In the province of Quebec, a woman was asked to leave two different French classes in Montreal. The woman, a recent immigrant from Egypt, refused to remove her face cover. After being allowed to sit at the front of the class (so all men were behind her) and make presentations with her […]

Happy Birthday, Jesus

By California Employment Law Letter Nov 15, 2009 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Nov 15, 2009

Employment law attorney Justin Pierce tackles the tough question of whether an employer should allow an employee to hang a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” sign in his office. Q Last year at Christmas, one of our employees, we’ll call him “Bob,” put up a small sign in his office that read “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” A non- […]

December Dilemna: Do’s and Don’ts

By Diversity Insight Dec 13, 2008 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Dec 13, 2008

The December Dilemma: practicing inclusion during the winter holidays. The top religious accommodation companies have made in the past 12 months? Considering different religious beliefs of employees when planning holiday-related events, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) “Religion and Corporate Culture Accommodating Religious Diversity Survey.” Taking differing beliefs into account is never […]