EEOC sues Circa Resort & Casino over religious discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal lawsuit against Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, alleging religious discrimination against a Messianic Jewish employee.

The lawsuit claims that a manager ordered a cage cashier to remove a headscarf worn for religious purposes and sent her home without pay when she refused. Following this, the casino’s human resources manager reportedly required the employee to provide a letter from clergy to validate her religious practices, noting that her practices did not align with his personal views of Judaism. The employee stated she could not provide such a letter because she does not belong to a synagogue.

The employee was ultimately terminated in July 2024. The EEOC alleges these actions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandates reasonable religious accommodations and prohibits retaliation against employees seeking such accommodations. The case has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.