Does 'religious freedom' give OK for job bias?

In recent years, many corporations have made an effort to show their inclusive nature to certain groups, including the LGBT community. But what should your company do if an employee cites "religious freedom" as a reason to reject those company efforts?

While federal job discrimination law does protect the rights of LGBT workers, it also protects the rights of religious people. And it's illegal to discipline or terminate employees for requesting an accommodation for their religious beliefs.

It often comes down to finding the reasonable middle ground, as the employer in this new EEOC lawsuit failed to do.

Recent case: When a Kroger supermarket in Arkansas handed out new aprons to employees, two workers objected, saying the rainbow-colored heart insignia endorsed LGBT values.

One employee offered to cover the rainbow heart and another offered to wear a different apron. Kroger refused both accommodation requests, disciplined them and...