The EEOC Amplifies Its Focus On Religious Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") received 3,721 charges alleging religious discrimination in fiscal year 2013.  In partial response to these charges, earlier this month, the EEOC issued new technical assistance publications addressing religious dress and grooming in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII").  Given the heightened attention the EEOC will likely give to religious discrimination issues, the following is general guidance on Title VII's religious garb and grooming requirements and best practices, which employers should keep in mind in order to help reduce the potential for Title VII violations.

Title VII generally requires most private-sector, and state and local government employers with 15 or more employees to allow applicants and employees to follow dress and grooming practices pursuant to their religious exercise, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the operation of the