Perhaps oil and water can mix: the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005

For decades it was "taboo" for an employee to bring his or her religion to the workplace. Today's workers are no longer recognizing the traditional wall that has separated faith from work. Moreover, religious pluralism is on the rise in the United States, forcing employers to deal with employees following a growing array of religious and spirituality movements. In an attempt to create a more equitable balance between the employer's right to operate its business and the employees' rights to practice their faith at work, Congress is considering passage of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA) of 2005. Employers should be aware of provisions of this legislative proposal in light of an ever-changing religious climate. This article explores the traditional view that religion and work are not well-suited for one another. The existing legal protection available for religious workers is then presented. Sections subsequently explore changes to the United States' religious landscape now occurring along with the recent entry of faith into the workplace. A detailed examination of the WRFA is presented, including a comparison of provisions of the proposed legislation to facets of current law used successfully to deal with disabled employees.