Companies Required to Provide Religious Accommodations

The EEOC recently announced a settlement against Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc., in which the EEOC claimed that the company discriminated against one of its employees because of her sincerely held religious beliefs.  The EEOC’s complaint alleged that Cottle’s employee, Helen Perez, is a Seventh-day Adventist, and because of her sincerely held religious beliefs, Perez could not work during the Sabbath, which lasts from sunset on Fridays and ends at sunset on Saturdays.  After about two years of Perez working for the company, Cottle told all of its employees that its workers were now required to work seven days per week.  Perez informed the company of her need for a religious accommodation, and the company fired her in response.  The alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  See EEOC v. Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc., No 7:19-cv-00064-BO (E.D.N.C.).