Don't Forget the Religious Accommodations!

Business Insurance published a great article by Judy Greenwald, Knowledge, Training Key to Avoiding Religious Discrimination Claims. It's tough to say what exactly makes an employment law article "great" . . . but a quote from me never hurts ;-)

Philip K. Miles III, an associate with McQuaide Blasko in State College, Pa., said employers “need to understand they have an obligation to engage in the interactive process with employees who seek accommodation for their religion.” While most employers are aware they have such an obligation with respect to disability, they “may not be quite as aware, or don't have, a process to handle religious accommodations,” he said.

Religious accommodation is often overlooked. While it's not a particularly common form of discrimination, the number of claims is slowly but steadily rising.

UPDATE: I should note that the linked chart shows total religious discrimination claims, not necessarily acommodation claims.

Posted by Philip Miles, an attorney with McQuaide Blasko in State College, Pennsylvania in the firm's civil litigation and labor and employment law practice groups.