U.S. Supreme Court Eases Standard for Employees to Sue Employers Concerning Denied Religious Accommodations in the Workplace

September 26, 2023
Hall Benefits Law, LLC

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued its decision in Groff v. DeJoy, Postmaster General, making it easier for employees to sue employers that fail to offer religious workplace accommodations. In its ruling, the Court revived a Title VII lawsuit that former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee and Evangelical Christian Gerald Groff had filed after the USPS would not accommodate his religious practices.

When the USPS began requiring employees to work certain Sundays, it arranged for other employees to change shifts with Groff so that he could observe the Sabbath. However, the employer could find no one to cover Groff’s Sunday shifts and disciplined Groff when he failed to show up for his shifts as assigned. Ultimately, Groff resigned from his position. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in favor of the USPS last year, finding that Groff’s absences constituted an “undue hardship” for the employer because the situation lowered employee morale, disrupted workflow, and increased the burden on other workers.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing the opinion for the unanimous Court, clarified the undue hardship standard by stating that employers need not provide religious accommodations as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act if it would create “substantial increased costs.” In measuring these costs, an employer must look at the accommodations at issue and their practical impact on the nature of its operations, the size of its business, and its overall resources, financial and otherwise. The requested accommodations generally must impact other employees and affect the conduct of business to constitute undue hardship.

HBL has experience in all areas of benefits and employment law, offering a comprehensive solution to all your business benefits and HR/employment needs. We help ensure you are in compliance with the complex requirements of ERISA and the IRS code, as well as those laws that impact you and your employees. Together, we reduce your exposure to potential legal or financial penalties. Learn more by calling 470-571-1007.

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Hall Benefits Law, LLC

HBL offers employers comprehensive legal guidance on benefits in mergers and acquisitions, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), executive compensation, health and welfare benefits, healthcare reform, and retirement plans. We counsel a wide spectrum of clients including small, mid-sized, and large companies, 401(k) investment advisors, health insurance brokers, accountants, attorneys, and HR consultants, just to name a few. HBL is passionate about advising clients, and we are dedicated to our mission: to provide comprehensive, personalized, and practical ERISA and benefits legal solutions that exceed client expectations.

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