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Religious Harassment at a Religious Ageny

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TLBear

New member
What is the name of your state? Texas

I work in HR at an agency that was founded as a religious agency (there is a debate about whether we are a religious organization by the EEOC definition but assuming we are). I know religious organizations are exempt from some Title VII claims and can show preference to hiring within their religion. If jokes are made that are negative towards another religion and an employee of that religion is offended, can that employee claim religious harassment?
 


quincy

Senior Member
What is the name of your state? Texas

I work in HR at an agency that was founded as a religious agency (there is a debate about whether we are a religious organization by the EEOC definition but assuming we are). I know religious organizations are exempt from some Title VII claims and can show preference to hiring within their religion. If jokes are made that are negative towards another religion and an employee of that religion is offended, can that employee claim religious harassment?
Possibly. It depends on all facts.
 

quincy

Senior Member
A VP makes jokes regularly at the expense of other christian denominations. The agency hires people of all religions, but does ask new hires to identify their religion
Has a complaint been made to the head of the agency?
 

TLBear

New member
Has a complaint been made to the head of the agency?
A complaint was made to HR and we brought it to the CEO who responded that since we state our denomination and call ourselves a religious agency(again lets assume we are but there is doubt as to if we classify) we cannot be sued for disparaging another religion or denomiation.
 

quincy

Senior Member
A complaint was made to HR and we brought it to the CEO who responded that since we state our denomination and call ourselves a religious agency(again lets assume we are but there is doubt as to if we classify) we cannot be sued for disparaging another religion or denomiation.
What you were told is not true.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
A complaint was made to HR and we brought it to the CEO who responded that since we state our denomination and call ourselves a religious agency(again lets assume we are but there is doubt as to if we classify) we cannot be sued for disparaging another religion or denomiation.
Seriously? Does your company have an attorney?


@cbg is one of out Employment Law experts...perhaps she will advise you.
 

cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
The CEO is wrong. It's one thing to be allowed to give preference to your own religion or denomination. It's quite another to actively disparage others.
 

TLBear

New member
The CEO is wrong. It's one thing to be allowed to give preference to your own religion or denomination. It's quite another to actively disparage others.
Thank you. That is my feeling as well. I am going to speak to our lawyer but I wanted to double check that I wasnt wrong (I come from corporate HR so this religious exemption thing is so new to me)
 

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