The Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that employers with 15 or more employees not discriminate on the basis of religion in the workplace. This law means that these employers, in the absence of undue hardship, must provide reasonable accommodations for the employee's religious practice. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has interpreted that provision so narrowly that employers need not accommodate religion if it would even minimally inconvenience the employer.

Pending Legislation

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA) would require employers to accommodate the religious practices of their employees, such as the wearing of religious garb or allowing time off for religious holidays, unless doing so would cause a meaningful "undue hardship."

Workplace Religious Freedom Act (H.R. 1445) and (S. 677)

Resources on Religion in the Workplace

Guidelines on Religious Exercise and Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace (1997)
Office of the Press Secretary, The White House

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Why we need a Workplace Religious Freedom Act
By K. Hollyn Hollman

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