Mayo Clinic to pay $50,000 in religious exemption settlement

Mayo Clinic has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit alleged that the healthcare provider unlawfully denied a religious exemption request from a security guard, Cody Schultz, regarding the organization’s 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Schultz, a member of the Assemblies of God, requested an accommodation based on his faith in “divine healing” and argued that vaccine ingredients were inconsistent with his beliefs. He offered to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and wear a mask in lieu of vaccination. Mayo Clinic denied the request, questioning the sincerity of his religious beliefs, which ultimately forced Schultz to receive the vaccine to avoid termination.

The settlement, which addresses violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, requires Mayo Clinic to provide damages to Schultz and prohibits the organization from failing to provide religious accommodations absent “undue hardship.” The agreement also prevents the clinic from retaliating against employees who seek such accommodations in the future.