The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled in favor of Gerald Groff, a Pennsylvania postal worker who said he was forced to work Sundays despite observing the Sabbath. The Court’s decision overturns decades of precedent, requiring employers to take religious accommodation requests far more seriously. Previously, businesses could deny such requests if they caused even minimal cost; now, they must show that granting them would result in “substantial increased costs” or undue hardship.

Writing for the Court, Justice Samuel Alito clarified that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 calls for a balanced approach—protecting religious observance while ensuring business efficiency. The decision brings the treatment of religious accommodations closer to that of disability accommodations under federal law. Supporters of the ruling, including religious liberty advocates, hail it as a historic expansion of workplace protections for people of faith.

Unions and employment experts, however, caution that the ruling could complicate scheduling and workload distribution when employees are excused for religious reasons. Despite such concerns, the Court’s message was clear: employers must make genuine efforts to accommodate faith-based requests. Groff, who resigned after years of conflict with the Postal Service, called the verdict a victory for religious freedom and a reminder that no one should have to choose between their job and their beliefs.