Brace for more religious-bias lawsuits.

There has been a notable spike in lawsuits involving religious discrimination at work.

EEOC complaints based on religious accommodations increased substantially over the last two fiscal years. In 2021, there were 2,111 religious-discrimination charges. By the end of fiscal year 2022, that number had jumped to 13,814. That number may increase yet again in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions.

Upshot: Expect more cases litigating clashes between employees and employers about the kinds of religious activities permitted or prohibited in the workplace.

Recent case: Aurora Renovations is a North Carolina construction company. Since June 2020, the company's owners, exercising their right to practice their Christian faith, required all employees to attend a daily meeting that included prayers and Bible readings.

A construction manager, citing his own conflicting religious beliefs, asked to be excused. The company first cut his pay and eventually fired him. Then a customer service representative stopped attending the...