On March 12, 2015, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed into law Bill S 296 outlawing employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the law, employers with 15 or more employees may not refuse to hire, promote, discharge, demote, or terminate a person or retaliate against, harass, or discriminate against a person because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. Employers are required to adopt reasonable dress and grooming standards, as well as reasonable rules and policies that designate sex-specific facilities consistent with the employee’s gender identity.
The law protects employees by allowing them to express their religious or moral beliefs in the workplace as long as they are doing it in a reasonable, non-disruptive, and non-harassing way. However, if the religious expression is in direct conflict with the employer’s business related interests, these may be prohibited. The law is effective now.
Compliance Poster Company has updated its Utah All-On-One PosterTM with the new protected classes.