Overview

• Federal agencies have begun updating workplace policies to enact the July 28 memo that permits personal displays of religious items, prayer groups and non-harassing proselytizing with formal opt-out rights.
• OPM Director Scott Kupor grounded the directive in Title VII and First Amendment principles, instructing agencies not to discipline or discharge employees for religious observance and practice.
• Conservative figures such as Andrew T. Walker and Focus on the Family praised the guidance as a restoration of constitutional freedoms and a revival of a Clinton-era religious expression policy.
• LGBTQ+ advocates and scholars including Brad Sears argue that vague standards for “harassing” behavior and favored treatment for faith-based activities could enable workplace discrimination.
• The memo mandates content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions and reminds employees they may decline religious invitations or request proselytizing colleagues to stop.