outsolve insights

With the recent rescission of Executive Order (EO) 11246, many employers, especially federal contractors, are reevaluating their approach to compliance. However, while EO 11246 is no longer in effect, compliance obligations remain under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures.  

One of the main roles of Human Resources is staying informed about employment laws and helping their organizations remain in compliance with those laws. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 remains an important foundational law despite the many legal changes that have happened during the first several weeks of 2025.  

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires employers, upon request, to reasonably accommodate employees whose religious beliefs, practices, or observances conflict with work requirements. The only exception to this would be if the accommodation request causes undue hardship.  

One holiday where employers may be asked for religious accommodations is during Ramadan. This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025, and ends Saturday, March 29, 2025. Employers may start to receive requests for religious accommodations and should be aware of the Title VII requirement to grant accommodation requests.