In Tepper v. Potter, (6th Cir., Oct. 15, 2007), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Title VII religious accommodation and religious discrimination claims brought by a letter carrier against the Chagrin Falls, Ohio branch of the United States Postal Service.
Letter carrier Martin Tepper is a Messianic Jew who observes Saturday as his Sabbath. While the post office initially accommodated him by giving him Saturdays off, in 2002 the accommodation was terminated due to staffing problems. The court held that requiring Tepper to take leave without pay, or use vacation time if he wished to take Saturdays off does not amount to discipline or discharge for his religious observance, nor does it amount to a materially adverse change in his conditions of employment. Rejecting Tepper’s differential treatment claim, the court held that giving other employees Sunday off was not so they could observe their Sabbath, but because few carriers are needed since few mail deliveries are scheduled for Sunday. The court said all employees are treated equally—all must work a 5-day week with a rotating day off. [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]
