Religious Holidays and Job Applicants

Religious discrimination in the hiring process is prohibited. Brush up on the law and you can avoid it. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, you generally cannot:

• Schedule exams or other activities on a day that conflicts with a prospective employee’s religious needs.
• Inquire about an applicant’s future availability at certain times.
• Maintain a restrictive/discriminatory dress code.
• Refuse to allow observance of a Sabbath or religious holiday.

A one-page fact sheet by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can help you learn more.

Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington, D.C., August 1998.