As you work to add diversity to your workforce, there may be times when when religious accommodation is requested. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits any discrimination based on an employee’s religion, and it also requires employers to “reasonably accommodate” religious beliefs, practices and observances. The U.S. Supreme Court has defined religious belief as “a belief that is both ‘religious’ in the employee’s own scheme of things and sincerely held by the employee”, but the law protects beyond traditional religions. So what is reasonable accommodation? Are all employers required to accommodate their employee’s religious needs? What are common methods of religious accommodation in the workplace?

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