“The new administration should enact policies with robust respect for religious exercise in the workplace… employers may make employment decisions based on religion regardless of nondiscrimination laws.” (General Welfare, Department of Labor, page 586)

Any policy that would allow and even encourage employers to make decisions about who they hire and fire or promote and demote based solely on that employer’s “religious beliefs” about a person (instead of their actual job performance) is discriminatory, makes for a hostile work environment, and is flat-out wrong. A promotion or pay raise should reflect a job well done, not the skin color, gender, race, or religion of an individual. This policy will lead to added stress on employees to hide their personal beliefs or religion (or lack thereof), or be forced to conform to the employer’s beliefs. BIPOC employees will lose their sense of self, and will increasingly feel insecure in their positions. It will further lead to biased hiring, firing, promotional, and termination practices, and create a sense of alienation and discomfort, impacting their mental health and job performance.