Training Description: This employee training will identify the purpose of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with a focus on discrimination as it relates Religion.
Discrimination Scenario
Chick-Fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays in observance of the Sabbath, and to allow its employees to attend the church of their choosing. Recently, a man was hired who was a Seventh Day Adventist. He was unaware of this policy and did not tell the management in his interview that he worships on Saturday rather than Sunday. He asked for Saturdays off and was told he could not have that day off. Because he would have to work and not be able to worship on Saturdays, he quit his job. He then requested state unemployment benefits and was denied. He has sued the state under the First Amendment and the employer under Title VII.
Application of Law
Title VII prohibits employers with at least 15 employees from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and religion. With respect to religion, Title VII prohibits: treating applicants or employees differently based on their religious beliefs or practices – or lack thereof – in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, assignments, discipline, promotion, and benefits (disparate treatment); subjecting employees to harassment because of their religious beliefs or practices –denying a requested