Christian Discrimination Lawsuit

Attorneys with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) announced in a June 22, 2009 EEOC Press Release that an operator of ski resorts in Vail and Keystone, Colorado will pay $80,000.00 and furnish other relief to settle a religious and gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC.  According to the Press Release, the lawsuit charged that an emergency services supervisor was subjected to harassment based on her Christian religion and her sex, denied religious accommodation and treated less favorably than her male colleagues.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-22-09.html .  As stated in the EEOC Press Release, the employee’s supervisor allegedly forbade her and another Christian employee from even discussing their Christian beliefs with one another while at work, and would not allow them to listen to Christian music while on duty, because it might offend other employees, but had no similar restrictions on music with profanity or lyrics promoting violence against women, which were offensive to her.  In addition, the EEOC lawsuit claimed that she was ridiculed by her supervisor for asking for scheduling accommodation so that she could attend her preferred religious services.  Further, the lawsuit alleged that her supervisor tolerated and created a sexually hostile work environment where he and other male employees made offensive sexual comments and jokes in the workplace.

Whether employment related discrimination against Christians occurs in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio or elsewhere, victims of workplace religious bias against Christians may contact the EEOC and an attorney or lawyer to determine if a religious harassment lawsuit is ultimately appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential employment discrimination claim.