Supreme Court Upholds Religious Accommodations for Christian Mail Carrier

The Supreme Court ruled against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in a unanimous decision, stating that employers like USPS must demonstrate more than a de minimis burden to avoid their obligations to provide reasonable religious accommodations. The case involved a USPS letter carrier, Gerald Groff, who sued after being asked to work on Sundays, which conflicted with his religious observances. The court reversed decades of precedent and sent the case back to a lower court to determine if USPS could find alternative means to keep Groff employed without requiring him to work on Sundays. The decision clarifies that employers must demonstrate a practical effect on the conduct of the business to prove an undue hardship. Various religious groups have expressed concerns about employers avoiding compromises for employees with restrictions on their availability or tasks.