Bias Lawsuit Over COVID Policies Filed By Ex-Princeton U. Employee

PRINCETON, NJ —Princeton University was hit by a religious discrimination lawsuit on Tuesday after a former employee said the institution denied her religious exemption from COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and mask mandates.

Kate McKinley, who worked as a budget analyst, said she faced “discriminatory treatment and harassment” at the workplace due to her religion and was fired for objecting to COVID-19 mitigation policies set by the University.

According to the lawsuit, on June 8, 2021 McKinley was informed that COVID-19 vaccination would be a required condition for employment at the University. In July she was granted religious exemption.

A month later, McKinley requested to be exempt from asymptomatic testing, mask requirements, and digital contact tracing due to her religious beliefs. In September the University denied her request after which she filed a complaint of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

On or about Sept.16, 2021, The University fired McKinley, the lawsuit alleges.

As a result of the firing, McKinley said she suffered mental anguish and economic damages.

The lawsuit alleges that Princeton University knew about the alleged discrimination and harassment, as McKinley complained to her supervisors. However, the University “failed to take prompt and appropriate remedial action to prevent or correct further discrimination and harassment,” the lawsuit said.

McKinley, who began working at the University in 2017, said in the lawsuit that Princeton violated Title VII by subjecting her to “retaliation for her protected complaints and opposition” to the institution's “discriminatory COVID-19 policies.”

The lawsuit also alleges that the University violated the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act by subjecting McKinley “to retaliation for her protected complaints and opposition to Defendant’s unlawful collection of genetic information.”

McKinley is seeking monetary damages including, but not limited to, the loss of past and future income, wages, compensation, job security and other benefits of employment.

“We feel our client has a strong case as she was granted religious exemption to the vaccine policy, but denied accommodation for others,” McKinley’s attorney David Cassidy told Patch.

The attorney said the University did not take into consideration the fact that McKinely worked from home for 18 months. “The University is taking a restrictive view with the policy,” Cassidy said.

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Princeton University mandated the COVID-19 vaccine to all students and employees including faculty, appointed visiting faculty and researchers, temporary employees, and independent contractors.

The University said it would grant exemptions due to a “disability, medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief.” However, the University’s asymptomatic testing program required staff, students and faculty to be tested on regular basis.

Spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss told Patch the University will “vigorously” defend its actions in court.

“The University handled this former employee’s accommodation request fairly, appropriately and in accordance with the applicable laws and internal policies,” Hotchkiss said. “We intend to defend the litigation vigorously and expect to vindicate our actions in court.”

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