Tina Williams
Director, Division of Policy and Program Development
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Comments on Regulatory Information Number (RIN) 1250-AA09: Proposal to Rescind Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption
Dear Ms. Williams,
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) supports the above-referenced OFCCP proposal (“proposed recission”) to rescind implementing legal requirements regarding the equal opportunity clause’s religious exemption. This is an important step towards restoring religious freedom and ending workplace discrimination in the name of religion.
NELA has an important interest in OFCCP’s proposal. NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country. Founded in 1985, NELA advances worker rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. NELA and its 69 circuit, state, and local affiliates have a membership of over 4,000 attorneys who work on behalf of those who have been treated illegally in the workplace. NELA members represent thousands of workers from around the country in discrimination cases. This gives NELA important and insightful perspective on how religious exemptions granted to employers play out on the ground, and the immense harms to workers when these employer exemptions are expanded.
Religious freedom is a fundamental American value. … Read More