Religion

SCOTUS sides with baker that refused to bake a cake to celebrate gay marriage. But, it’s not what you think.

June 5, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Masterpiece Cakeshop (Lakewood, Colorado).JPG

By Jeffrey Beall – Own work, CC BY 4.0, Link

Most of you have probably heard of the case that went to the Supreme Court involving a Colorado baker who would customize a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because he believed that doing so would violate his religious beliefs. The case is called Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Yesterday, in a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the baker.

Today, you’ll read headlines like, “Supreme Court sides with Colorado baker who refused to make wedding cake for same-sex couple” or “Supreme Court Hands Win To Baker Who Refused Service To Gay Couple”

But, don’t get it twisted. Continue reading

If you’re considering forcing your employees to practice the “Onionhead” religion, well, don’t.

May 3, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: FreeStockPhotos.biz (http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15030)

We employment lawyers have stories upon stories.

When it comes to the employer-employee relationship, especially when that relationship hits the skids, we’ve seen it all.

But, every once in a while there comes a story that even raises my eyebrows. Continue reading

Do your employees understand the limits of their freedom of speech? If not, educate them.

March 26, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pexels.com and http://negativespace.co/photos/computer-in-bed-2/)

Do your employees appreciate that what they do on social media on their own time can cost them their job?

Do your employees think that “freedom of speech” can save them from getting fired? Continue reading

BOOKMARK THIS: A blueprint to providing an employee with a religious accommodation

March 15, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/blueprint-ruler-architecture-964629/)

I started the week presenting to HR audiences in DC and NJ about accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Today, I want to pivot into religious accommodations by highlighting a recent federal court decision, which can teach employers a thing or two about how to engage in a good-faith interactive dialogue. Continue reading

PODCAST: “Losing My Religion: Title VII and flu shot accommodations” (ft. Brooks and Ivy Meyer)

December 18, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Pixabay.com

Last Thursday, the Third Circuit of Appeals issued this opinion in Fallon v. Mercy Catholic Medical Center of Southeastern Pennsylvania, in which the court addressed religious accommodation and flu shots. Specifically, the court focused on what constitutes “religion” under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

So, rather than write this up as a blog post, I thought I’d enlist the help of two family members who apparently enjoy flu shots; namely, my older son Brooks (8) and my older daughter Ivy (6). Continue reading

The”Mark of the Devil” and the hellish cost to defend employment litigation

November 1, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Pixabay.com

On the day before Halloween, a Pennsylvania federal court (here) denied an employer’s attempt to have a religious-accommodation case dismissed early.

This isn’t your run of the mill religious-accommodation case. Continue reading

How would you respond if your employee was photographed marching in Charlottesville over the weekend?

August 14, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Following a tumultuous weekend in Charlottesville, VA, where a white nationalist march turned deadly, it appears as though at least one attendee will return home from the rally to find himself unemployed.

If you think you’re gonna get sued, protect your documents! Or else bad things may happen.

August 8, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Pixabay.com

Today’s post is brought to you by the letter “S.” Continue reading

That time when an employee argued that taking vacation days was “discipline.”

July 20, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret — an easy-peasy way to accommodate an employee who needs a day off from work as a religious accommodation…

Want to wear a Phillie Phanatic hat to work for religious reasons? That could get you fired in Minnesota.

July 12, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

MLB.com

Baseball as a religion? Remember what Annie Savoy from the great Bull Durham said:

“I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I’ve worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn’t work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology….I’ve tried ’em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.”