New York's City Council has passed a sweeping employment discrimination measure requiring employers to accommodate workers' religious observance requirements except in cases where doing so would mean "significant expense or difficulty" to the business. Employers would have the burden of proving such a hardship precludes accommodation.
"I don't want anyone to think this only covers city agencies. This is for all employers," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
The bill aims to require employers to allow employees to take particular days off, times to pray, or wear certain clothes for religious reasons.
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"This does raise the standard for what the hardship is, that they have to say we can't accommodate you in the future," said Queens Councilman Mark Weprin.
The current standard is whether accommodation would be "inconvenient," so this bill – which was passed unanimously and has the Mayor's support – amounts to a significant increase in worker protection.
