Religious Objections to Diversity Policies Spur New Legal Issues

An increasing number of workers are seeking faith-based accommodations with respect to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, adding an extra wrinkle to an already tricky legal landscape.

Companies have adopted DEI programs to help weed out bias against historically marginalized workers and attract and retain an inclusive workforce, even where individual personnel decisions aren’t based on race or other protected categories.

But there’s been an upward trend in worker defiance against participating in workplace DEI programs or anti-bias training—some of which are mandated by state law—on the basis that they clash not just with their political views, but with ...