In recent days, several cases involving refusal of employers to accommodate employees' religious beliefs have been filed or decided. In Rumfola v. Total Petrochemical USA, Inc., (MD LA, March 13, 2012), a Louisiana federal district court held that a jury question exists as to whether an employer would have suffered "undue hardship" if it allowed an employee, a member of the Living Church of God, to take off on Friday night and Saturday for religious reasons during a production plant turnaround process. [Thanks to CCH Employment Law Daily via Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]
The Detroit News reported earlier this week on a federal lawsuit filed by a Jewish dentist against the Dearborn, Michigan dental office that employed him. Dr. Mark Ellis claimed that his employer accommodated religious practices of Muslim employees, while rejecting or reluctantly granting similar accommodation to him. Ellis says he was advised against wearing a yarmulke (ead covering) and Tzitzit (ritual fringes) during work hours because the dental office had many Arabic patients.However Muslim dentists could wear head coverings and other religious clothing. Midwest Dental also constantly harassed Ellis about leaving early on Friday, even though it permitted Muslim dentists an extra hour at lunch to attend Friday prayers.
Aol Jobs reported this week that 8 Musliim cab drivers in Orlando, Florida are filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that their employer, Star Taxi, threatened they would be fired if they were caught praying at any of the company's service stations, even though employees of religions are4 permitted to take a break to pray or read religious material.
