BURCH

**What Happened** A worker at Fellowship Village Senior Living, a senior care facility in New Jersey, requested a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. When her employer denied this request and later fired her, she filed a complaint claiming the company discriminated against her based on her religious beliefs and retaliated against her for requesting the accommodation. **What the Court Decided** The New Jersey Appellate Division sided with the employer. The court upheld an earlier decision that found no evidence of discrimination or retaliation. The court determined that Fellowship Village Senior Living did not violate the law when it denied the religious exemption request and terminated the employee's employment. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that employers can legally deny religious accommodation requests in certain situations, particularly in healthcare settings where employee vaccination may be considered essential for patient safety. Workers should understand that requesting a religious exemption doesn't guarantee approval, and employers can refuse such requests if they can show legitimate business reasons, such as protecting vulnerable residents in senior living facilities. The decision reinforces that accommodation requests must be balanced against workplace safety requirements.