Title VII requires that employers provide religious accomodations to their employees unless it imposes an "undue hardship"

Previously, that was interpreted leniently as anything more than a de minimus cost

test is more now rigorous, so more protection for religious employees

[The Supreme Court adopted neither side's standard.

One wanted to keep it the same & the other wanted to incorporate the ADA undue hardship standard. ]

#TitleVII #religion #Groff #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #law #LawFedi

The second #SCOTUS opinion today is Groff v. DeJoy

It is unanimous

New standard: Title VII required unless "accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business"

Link: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-174_k536.pdf

#SupremeCourt #SCOTUS #TitleVII #law #LawFedi #LawProf

In Groff v. DeJoy, an postal worker wanted Sundays off to observe his Sabbath, which forced coworkers to cover for him.
His employer refused

Title VII requires that employers accommodate the religious needs of their employees unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship

The #SupremeCourt has in the past interpreted this standard leniently: “An ‘undue hardship’ is one that results in more than a de minimis cost to the employer.”

#law #lawFedi #LawProf #Fedilaw #SCOTUS #TitleVII

Why wasn't SCOTUS all onboard given its record of privileging religion regardless of cost?

Maybe
First, it was a clash between two of its favorite things, religion and business

Two, Kavanaugh observed there were religious interests on both sides, the Sabbath observer employee who felt compelled to go to church on Sunday and his coworkers who would cover him who might have wanted to go to church on Sunday.

#SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #Groff #TitleVII #FediLaw #Law #LawFedi #LawProf #employment

The last set of regularly scheduled #SCOTUS arguments this term start next week. Highlights include an important #TitleVII religious accommodation case and what is a #TrueThreat in the social media context (plus a foreclosure #TakingsClause case that has a lot of attention). https://profzwolfe.com/2023/04/12/april-2023-arguments/

Over on the LP&E Project blog, there is an interesting post on the toll religious accommodations can take on worker solidarity, a collision of interest implicated in Groff v. DeJoy, on which SCOTUS will hear oral argument next week. A summary and some thoughts . . .

#law #contracts #litigation #SCOTUS #LaborLaw #TitleVII

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/contractsprof_blog/2023/04/lpe-project-on-religious-accommodations-for-postal-workers.html

Offensive Music at Work Creates Legal Headaches for Employers:

Sharp v. S&S Activewear Docket
Israel v. Tesla Docket

#Law #LawFedi #EmploymentLaw #SexualHarassment #HostileWorkEnvironment #EEOC #Discrimination #TitleVII #Nevada #9thCircuit #Music

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/offensive-music-at-work-creates-legal-headaches-for-employers

Cert. Granted To Review Title VII "Undue Hardship" Test For Religious Accommodation https://buff.ly/3ZCIfdj

" In the case, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals held that accommodating a Sunday sabbath observer by allowing him not to report for work on Sunday would cause an 'undue hardship'to the U.S. Postal Service. "

I always worry when the Supreme Court decides to hear a religion case

#ChristianNationalism #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #law #lawfedi #lawprof #religion #TitleVII #undueburden

Christian School Teacher Fired for urging the school's principal to show acceptance and understanding of LGBT Students Files Suit http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2022/12/christian-school-teacher-fired-for.html

Not all religious claims are brought by conservatives.

#religion #religiousliberty #TitleVII #TitleIX #lawfedi #LGBTQ