Chicago-based United Airlines Inc. is facing an allegation of unlawfully denying religious and medical exemptions to employees from the COVID-19 vaccination mandate after making it difficult for workers to apply for them.

Six of the company’s employees filed a lawsuit in Texas federal claiming that workers seeking exemption from inoculation were met with unwelcomed inquiries about their medical conditions or religious belief, including a requirement of obtaining letters from pastors.

These employees then accused United Airlines of breaching federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on religion and disability. They are now pushing for a nationwide class-action lawsuit that is likely to involve over 2,000 United employees.

United Airlines in a statement outlined that there was no rational basis on the lawsuit filed, and it has only seen a positive response from employees since mandating vaccination.

As per the lawsuit, the plaintiffs say that United Airlines gave only until August 31 to apply for religious or medical exemptions from the mandate and that it has automatically denied requests past the deadline. They asked the court to temporarily ban enforcement of the company’s mandate for employees who are requesting exemptions.

United Airlines has already faced a separate lawsuit in Florida regarding the mandate, which was dismissed by a U.S. judge last week. The judge stated the claim was not filed properly.

Such lawsuits exemplify the legal challenges that employers face in mandating vaccination and comes as President Joe Biden is looking to enforce companies with 100 employees or more to ensure their workforces are tested for COVID-19 every week or are fully vaccinated.

United Airlines required workers to receive at least the first dose of a vaccine by Sept. 27 or face termination. It claims that 97% of its U.S.-based employees are vaccinated to date.

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https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2021-09-22/united-airlines-accused-of-refusing-employee-exemptions-to-vaccine-mandate