Amendments to NYC law strengthen employee protections against religious discrimination

On August 30, 2011, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law amendments to the New York City Human Rights Law (specifically, to sections 8-102(18) and 8-107(3)(b) of the New York City Administrative Code) which effectively make it more difficult for an employer to refuse to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs on the ground that the requested accommodation constitutes an “undue hardship”.  The New York City Council passed the legislation, Int. No. 632-A (the “Workplace Religious Freedom Act”), on August 17, 2011.