Religious Belief Discrimination Lawsuit

The U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) announced in a September 11, 2009 Press Release at http://www.eeoc.gov/press/9-11-09c.html that the agency filed a federal lawsuit against an ambulance service company for allegedly firing an en emergency medical technician, who is a Jehova’s Witness, for refusing to participate in a Halloween carnival.  As stated in the EEOC Press Release, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to employees’ or applicants’ sincerely held religious beliefs as long as this does not pose an undue hardship.  EEOC attorneys charged in the religious discrimination lawsuit that the employee had informed the company that she did not celebrate holidays or participate in holiday celebrations because she is a Jehova’s Witness and when she declined to take part, the company fired her.  In this regard, the EEOC is a federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, including discrimination based on sincerely held religious beliefs.  Further information about the EEOC is available in the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov .