Religious Shields in Contractor Bias Probes Set for DOL Agenda (1)

The Labor Department plans to update its rules to reflect current religious exemptions that federal contractors can use as a defense against accusations of workplace discrimination.

The move may add to growing tensions between religious liberty rights for businesses and anti-bias protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs could issue the proposed rule as early as December (RIN:1250-AA09), according to the Trump administration’s regulatory agenda released Oct. 17. The rulemaking was expected, following the agency’s release of “religious freedom” guidance in August.

Religious rights groups applauded that guidance as ...