Supreme Court supports Christian ex-mailman’s request to avoid Sunday shifts.

The Supreme Court Protects Religious Accommodations for USPS Mail Carrier

The Supreme Court made a significant decision on Thursday, ruling in favor of Gerald Groff, a Christian former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. Groff had sued his former employers after being denied accommodations to avoid working on the Sabbath.

The high court’s ruling emphasized that “Title VII requires an employer that denies a religious accommodation to show that the burden of granting an accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business.”

A Landmark Lawsuit

The lawsuit between Gerald Groff and the USPS marked a crucial test for determining the extent to which businesses must accommodate the religious views of their employees. Groff’s legal team argued that the Supreme Court should make it easier to bring claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination by employers based on various factors, including religion.

Groff’s attorneys sought to overturn a precedent set in the 1977 case Trans World Airlines v. Hardison. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that employers were not obligated to accommodate an employee’s desire to avoid working on the Sabbath if it would result in operating with fewer staff or incurring additional costs. The justices at the time believed that employers should not bear a “de minimis” or trifling burden.

As Groff’s case made its way through the lower courts, Congress has been slow to address proposals for greater religious accommodation in the workplace.

Clarifying the Standard

During oral arguments, Justice Department Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar clarified the government’s stance on the 1977 case. While not advocating for its complete overturning, Prelogar suggested that lower courts should be informed that interpreting Hardison to mean “you never have to accommodate” a religious request is inconsistent with the current state of the law.

The case, Groff v. DeJoy, was argued in April. Groff contended that his former managers initially arranged for other workers to deliver packages on Sundays. However, in July 2018, he began facing disciplinary actions if he did not report to work.

Overall, this Supreme Court ruling sets an important precedent for protecting religious accommodations in the workplace, ensuring that employees’ religious beliefs are respected and accommodated whenever possible.

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