Agency updates religious discrimination for first time in over a decade The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated the section of its Compliance Manual on religious discrimination in the workplace. The updated section on religious discrimination was published in January 2021 after a short review period and a 3-2 vote along party lines by the commissioners (with Republicans in favor of the proposal, and Democrats in opposition). Published just days before President Biden took office and named one of the Democratic members as chair of the agency, it remains to be seen if the EEOC will modify this or other sections of the Compliance Manual. What Is in the Compliance Manual? First, it is important to note that the document is merely a guide, not the law. As the EEOC states, the “document does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the public in any way. It is intended to provide clarity to the public on existing requirements under the law and how the Commission will analyze these matters in performing its duties.” The Compliance Manual addresses the changing legal landscape surrounding religion in the workplace since the Compliance Manual was […]
