• The Venetian agrees to settle with employees over religious beliefs for $850K
• The property is said to have denied civil rights tied to religious beliefs
• The EEOC has outlined what a reasonable acknowledgement of religious beliefs would look like

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has violated civil rights law for its refusal to accommodate employees’ religious beliefs, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found out.

The case dates back to a period shortly before the sale of The Venetian in 2022 and will result in The Venetian Resort now having to repay $850,000 to employees involved in the lawsuit against the company.

The Venetian supposedly hit back against employees who challenged the policy

In an official statement, the EEOC said that the Venetian not only chose to ignore specific requests about religious freedoms but also "retaliated" against employees who would challenge this behavior in the first place.

The retaliation took various forms – from disciplinary action, impeding career advancements, or outright layoffs. The statement read:

"Venetian retaliated against employees who opposed these acts of religious discrimination. In some cases, the denial of accommodations led to discipline, denial of promotion opportunities, and discharges or constructive discharge."

The EEOC highlighted what companies ought to do that is considered reasonable and aligned with civil rights laws, such as allowing days off for religious holidays or certain attire to be worn on the premises.

The commission similarly underscored the importance of not punishing individuals who spoke about the importance of upholding these essential civil rights.

The Venetian vows to do better in the wake of the settlement

The Venetian has challenged this over the years but has now agreed to settle for $850,000 with the plaintiffs. In addition, the company has confirmed that it will increase training for its employees, managers, and supervisors, ensuring that they are aware of specifics about individuals’ religious beliefs and rights.

To help with this task, The Venetian will bring an independent third-party auditor who will monitor the company’s operations vis-à-vis treatment of employees, and specifically civil rights, over the next three years.

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