ChurchLawAndTax.com features two separate free articles related to
one common question—how do employment discrimination laws apply to churches? As
you might guess, the answer is complex.
In Pastor, Church & Law, Volume 3: Employment Law,
Richard Hammar writes:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 prohibits employers engaged in commerce and having at least 15 employees
from discriminating in any employment decision on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, or religion. Religious organizations are exempt from
the ban on religious discrimination, but not from the other prohibited forms of
discrimination.
Numerous
employment lawsuits involving churches and those "other prohibited forms
of discrimination" have erupted throughout the years. It's essential every
church understand the circumstances surrounding these cases—and the outcomes.
Such understanding may help a church prevent a potential legal vulnerability;
more importantly, careful planning now helps churches establish best practices
protecting the church while respecting every employee.
This week, read about one woman who sued a church for age discrimination after it
fired her.
So, what do YOU think?
Discrimination Lawyer Boston Comment:
ReplyDeleteThere are numerous types of discrimination matters, such as racial discrimination, gender (sex) discrimination (including pregnancy discrimination), discrimination based upon national origin, discrimination based upon sexual orientation, housing discrimination, and other types of discrimination.