Two Utah Laws Related To Religious Expression In The Workplace Take Effect

The Utah legislature wrapped up its seven-week legislative session on March 1, 2024. In addition to passing a #MeToo-inspired law prohibiting confidentiality clauses regarding sexual misconduct, the legislature also passed two laws now in effect related to religious expression in the workplace for both public and private employers.

H.B. 396 – Workplace Discrimination Amendments

H.B. 396 addresses religious expression in the workplace for all Utah employers subject to the Utah Antidiscrimination Act. The law took effect on May 1, 2024. H.B. 396 generally prohibits an employer from compelling an employee to communicate or otherwise act in a manner that the employee believes would burden or offend the employee's sincerely held religious beliefs. The law also provides an obligation and process for an employer to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs unless undue burden is established.