Religious Employers Get Boost in Wage Cases From Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that broadened its test for excluding employees of religious institutions from the protections of anti-discrimination laws bolsters employer arguments that those workers aren’t covered by federal wage law, employment attorneys said.

The high court said in its 7-2 ruling Wednesday that the religious nature of workers’ duties are more important than titles or other factors when determining if the “ministerial exception” to anti-bias laws applies. The decision also signals that religious employers’ explanations of workers’ roles should get some deference.

The legal analysis for excluding religious workers is different under federal anti-bias laws and the ...