EEOC says an employee was discharged after requesting an exemption from duties involving gender-transition-related care for minors
A large pediatric healthcare provider has agreed to pay $650,000 to resolve a federal religious-discrimination charge involving an employee who objected to performing work connected to gender-transition-related medical procedures for minors.
Employee sought religious accommodation
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement on Sept. 30, saying the employee requested a religious accommodation from duties that included providing hormones and related services to minor patients.
According to the EEOC, the employee was discharged after requesting the accommodation. The agency alleged the hospital failed to comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires employers to reasonably accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would impose an undue hardship.
Settlement includes policy review and training
Under the three-year agreement, the hospital will pay $650,000 to the employee, review its religious-accommodation policies, train supervisors and managers, and report certain accommodation requests and retaliation complaints to the EEOC.
The settlement resolves the charge without further administrative proceedings and includes no admission of liability by the healthcare provider.
Religious accommodation remains a federal workplace issue
The case comes as federal agencies and courts continue to address disputes involving religion, workplace duties and policies related to sex and gender. The EEOC said employers must evaluate accommodation requests individually and cannot deny them based on inconvenience alone.
Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Sept. 30, 2026.
