Venetian Company to Compensate $850,000 in a Lawsuit Over Religious Bias
In a significant move, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the settlement of a religious discrimination lawsuit against Venetian Casino Resort LLC. The lawsuit, which was filed before Apollo Global Management and VICI Properties purchased the Venetian from Las Vegas Sands in February 2022, alleged that the casino resort failed to provide reasonable accommodations for employees' sincerely held religious beliefs.
As part of the settlement, the Venetian Casino Resort LLC will pay $850,000 to a class of employees, of diverse faiths, who claimed denial of religious accommodations. The Venetian is also compelled to employ an independent third party to monitor its anti-discrimination policy, complaint handling, and compliance for three years.
The EEOC recommends that employers provide reasonable accommodations for employees' sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business. Key specifics of these accommodations include modifications to work schedules, exceptions to dress codes or grooming policies, allowing time off or flexible hours for religious observance, and exemption from vaccine mandates when conflicts arise from sincerely held religious beliefs.
According to the EEOC, employers must engage in a prompt, good-faith interactive process with employees requesting accommodations, ideally responding within 1-3 business days and resolving requests within 1-2 weeks for standard cases. Employers may ask limited, respectful questions to verify the religious nature of the request but should avoid intrusive or doctrinal inquiries.
The settlement also requires the Venetian Casino Resort LLC to train all staff on worker rights and employers' obligations relating to religious accommodations. EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas stated that religious rights are part of the nation's first principles. However, the specific religious accommodations that were denied by the Venetian were not specified in the given text.
Notably, the settlement does not specify any punishments for those who speak out in favor of religious rights, but it does state that no one should be punished for doing so. The EEOC had also alleged that Venetian retaliated against employees who opposed acts of religious discrimination, but the details of these allegations were not provided.
The Venetian Casino Resort LLC, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a popular casino resort that offers various entertainment options. The settlement serves as a reminder for employers across industries to respect and uphold the rights of employees with sincerely held religious beliefs, ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace for all. Employers are encouraged to maintain transparent communication and proper training of managers to handle accommodation requests appropriately and avoid discrimination claims.
The settlement requires the Venetian Casino Resort LLC, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, to conduct training on religious accommodations for their staff, emphasizing the importance of a fair and inclusive casino culture. To avoid future religious discrimination lawsuits, the casino is also advised to promote responsible gambling by adhering to the EEOC's guidelines on religious accommodations.
