The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas has agreed to pay $850,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that accused the resort of violating civil rights laws by not accommodating employees’ religious beliefs.
If you haven’t been keeping track of The Venetian in recent times, the resort was actually sold to Apollo Global Management in 2022, but this lawsuit precedes this, making it three years since the suit came to light.
In terms of what was claimed, the resort reportedly refused to grant employees religious accommodations, leading to disciplinary actions, blocked promotions, and even wrongful terminations. The EEOC also highlighted retaliatory actions against staff who voiced objections to these discriminatory practices.
Andrea Lucas, EEOC acting chair, shone a light on the importance of protecting religious freedoms at work, noting, “As this case shows, reasonable accommodation might look like, among other things, allowing certain days off for Sabbatarians or Buddhists and allowing beards for Orthodox Christians. It also means not punishing anyone who speaks out in favor of these rights.”
Beyond the financial compensation that the claimants will receive, the settlement also mandates substantial changes at The Venetian Resort.
The company is now required to conduct thorough training for employees, supervisors, and management regarding workers’ rights and employer obligations in providing religious accommodations. Additionally, an independent external monitor must be appointed to review and update internal policies and procedures, ensuring compliance over a three-year period.
This lawsuit is part of a broader push by the EEOC to address workplace discrimination across the hospitality industry, hopefully making a significant dent into those not adhering to the rules, and ensuring that businesses respect and accommodate diverse religious practices of the whole of their workforce.
ReadWrite has reached out to The Venetian and EEOC for any further comment on the matter.
