Challenge Yourself!

Notice Concerning the Undue Hardship Standard in Title VII Religious Accommodation Cases.

This document was issued prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy, 143 S. Ct. 2279 (2023). The Groff opinion clarified that “showing ‘more than a de minimis cost’…does not suffice to establish undue hardship under Title VII.” Instead, the Supreme Court held that “undue hardship is shown when a burden is substantial in the overall context of an employer’s business,” “tak[ing] into account all relevant factors in the case at hand, including the particular accommodations at issue and their practical impact in light of the nature, size and operating cost of an employer.” Groff supersedes any contrary information on this webpage. For more information about the EEOC’s resources on religious discrimination, please see https://www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination.

Amardeep, who is Sikh, wears a turban as required by his religion. His supervisor tells him that his turban makes his co-workers "uncomfortable" and asks him to remove it. The supervisor also says that employees are not allowed to wear hats or other head coverings at work. What should Amardeep do?

A. Amardeep should remove his turban so he doesn't make his co-workers uncomfortable.

A is incorrect.
Amardeep's employer can't prohibit him from wearing his turban at work because it makes his co-workers uncomfortable. Amardeep's employer must allow him to wear his turban as an accommodation for his religious beliefs (a change to the way things are normally done at work to allow employees to observe their religion), unless it would be too expensive or disruptive.

Try again! Select another answer.
B. Amardeep should explain to his supervisor that he wears the turban as part of his religious beliefs. Amardeep should ask his supervisor to make an exception to the "no hats" rule so he can wear his turban.

B is correct.
Employees have a right to ask for religious accommodations (changes to the way things are normally done at work to allow employees to observe their religion). Amardeep should explain to his employer that he is asking for an exception to the "no hats" rule so he can wear his turban as part of his religious beliefs.

Great job! Select another answer, or go to the next question.
C. Amardeep should remove his turban because his supervisor is trying to protect him from harassment by his co-workers.

C is incorrect.
Amardeep's employer must allow him to wear his turban as an accommodation for his religious beliefs (a change to the way things are normally done at work to allow employees to observe their religion), unless it would be too expensive or disruptive. Amardeep's employer also must protect him from being harassed at work because he wears a turban as part of his religious beliefs. If Amardeep's co-workers harass him because of his religious beliefs, his employer should stop the harassment and ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Try again! Select another answer.
D. Amardeep should remove his turban because his employer doesn't allow employees to wear hats or other head coverings at work.

D is incorrect.
Amardeep's employer is required to make an exception to the "no hats" rule to allow Amardeep to wear his turban for religious reasons, unless it would be too expensive or disruptive to do so.

Try again! Select another answer.

Challenge Yourself!

Notice Concerning the Undue Hardship Standard in Title VII Religious Accommodation Cases.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EEOC Headquarters

Breadcrumb

Challenge Yourself!

Notice Concerning the Undue Hardship Standard in Title VII Religious Accommodation Cases.