On January 15, 2021, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) approved revisions to its compliance manual section which covers religious discrimination. The compliance manual is utilized by EEOC staff throughout the country for guidance in the investigation and enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). The manual also provides useful guidance to employers and employees.

The updated guidance describes the ways in which Title VII protects individuals from religious discrimination in the workplace and sets legal protections available to religious employers. This is the first update to this section of the compliance manual since 2008, and is intended to reflect recent issues that have emerged and legal developments.

See WLG’s prior article from 11/23/2020 which described the proposed changes to the manual in greater detail here.

See the newly issued section of the compliance manual here.