EEOC Sues Silver Cross Hospital Over Vaccine Mandate

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Silver Cross Hospital, alleging religious discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the complaint, a certified surgical technologist requested a religious exemption from the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in August 2021 based on her Christian beliefs. The hospital allegedly denied the request and terminated her employment in November 2021, despite the EEOC’s claim that a reasonable accommodation could have been provided without undue hardship. The EEOC contends that while vaccine mandates are not inherently unlawful, employers must still comply with Title VII by reasonably accommodating sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would impose more than a minimal burden. The agency further alleges that the employee’s termination constituted unlawful retaliation for asserting her rights. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Illinois, seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief to prevent similar violations. ​(EEOC v. Silver Cross Hospital, Civil Action No. 1:26-cv-3343).