Employer’s Undue Hardship Evidence Is Key in Religious Accommodation, Vaccine Mandate Case

September 18, 2025 | From HRCalifornia Extra

by Michelle Galbraith, J.D.; Employment Law Adviser, CalChamber

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers cannot take an adverse employment action against an individual on the basis of their religion — or fail to offer a reasonable accommodation for a sincerely held religious belief — unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new levels of scrutiny to this law, as many employees requested religious exemptions to vaccination requirements. Employers were caught between enforcing state mandates and granting accommodation requests.

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