California Civil Rights Department Publishes Religious Discrimination and Accommodations Fact Sheet and Ninth Circuit Addresses Undue Hardship Defense in Context of COVID-19 Vaccines

Both California and federal laws prohibit religious discrimination and require reasonable accommodations unless doing so would create an undue hardship. This week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed the undue hardship defense under federal law in the context of COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, the California Civil Rights Department published a Fact Sheet to assist employers in understanding their obligations and ensure compliance regarding religious discrimination and accommodations under California law.