Christian USPS worker files suit against postal service accusing it of religious discrimination

Gerald Groff, a former postal service worker from Pennsylvania, is suing the U.S. Postal Service over what he says is religious discrimination.

The postal service relieved Groff of his duties after he refused to work on Sundays in 2019. He was employed by the postal service for seven years.

The U.S. Postal Service partnered with Amazon in 2018 in order to deliver parcel post on Sundays in the U.S.

What are the details?

Groff — who is an evangelical Christian — filed the suit on Feb. 14, according to the Associated Press, accusing the postal service of religious discrimination because they required him to work on Sundays and subjected him to needless disciplinary action when he balked.

In the suit, Groff cited religious reasons in avoiding work on Sundays. To compensate for his Sunday absence, Groff said he offered to work on holidays and extended hours.

Groff is requesting that the postal service allow him to resume working and receive accommodation for his religious beliefs, which prohibit him from working on the Sabbath, to include back pay. He is also requesting an unspecified amount of money to compensate for emotional damages.

What else?

David Crossett, one of Groff's attorneys, said that his client should not be penalized for holding fast to the convictions of his faith.

"In a free and respectful society, government should recognize those differences among us that make us great, rather than punishing those differences, particularly when those differences result from our sincerely held religious beliefs," he insisted.

Jeremy Samek, another one of Groff's attorneys, added, "Employers are actually required to provide reasonable accommodations. It's something that happens every single day. [A]t the end of the day, Mr. Groff wants his job back."

He continued, "It's important for him, but it's also important for lots of other people who work for the federal government or the post office that they be able to continue their employment and to continue to observe their religious beliefs."