In another blockbuster decision, the Supreme Court, by unanimous decision, recently expanded religious protections for workers by ruling that under federal law (specifically, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act), employers can only refuse employees’ requests for religious accommodations when they can show that the granting the accommodation would lead to “substantial increased costs” in relation to the conduct of the employer’s business.
As a reminder, even prior to this decision interpreting federal law, employers in many jurisdictions (including New York City) already faced a heightened standard under state and/or local law for evaluating employees’ requests for religious accommodation, and this decision does not lower the bar in any such jurisdictions.
In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, employers nationwide are reminded to take a fresh look at their policies and procedures for handling requests for religious accommodations to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and consult with legal counsel as may be necessary.