Venetian Las Vegas Settles Religious Discrimination Suit for $850,000

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has agreed to pay $850,000 and implement significant policy changes under a three-year consent decree to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit alleged that the resort violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by refusing to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees from diverse faiths, including Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Buddhism. The EEOC claimed that employees who opposed these discriminatory practices faced retaliation such as suspension, denial of promotions, and discharge or constructive discharge. The allegations, which date back to 2016, were made prior to the resort's 2022 sale, but the new owners agreed to the settlement following a failed mediation process. As part of the consent decree, the Venetian must provide employee training on religious rights and employer obligations to prevent future discrimination. EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas emphasized the broad obligation of employers to accommodate religious practices, such as allowing certain days off or religious attire, without punishing employees who advocate for these rights.