Monday, June 12, 2023

Tennessee Human Rights Act Does Not Require Religious Accommodation

 In Johnson v. Tyson Foods, Inc.(WD TN, June 8, 2023), a Tennessee federal district court dismissed the remaining state law claims in a suit by a human resources manager who refused for religious reasons to comply with the company's Covid vaccine mandate.  Plaintiff was fired after rejecting an unpaid leave alternative.  In rejecting plaintiff's religious discrimination argument under the Tennessee Human Rights Act, the court said in part:

This Court is not aware of any case law holding that the THRA requires employers to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs and practices, and the Court will not read such a requirement into the statute