Self Employed Required to Work Sundays?

Question

My leasing management company is requiring my business to remain open on Sundays. I attend church during a portion of those business hours. Do I have any legal avenues I can explore to allow me to operate at a later time on Sundays because of my freedom of religion rights?

Answer 1

Are you in a retail location? From my experience, the management is very strict about all stores being open for the entirety of the mall hours. The seven-day operation requirement will be somewhere in your lease agreement.

This doesn't quite infringe on your religious rights yet, since they aren't refusing to lease to you on religious grounds, nor are they forbidding someone from opening the business in your stead. They need the business to be operational on Sundays, not necessarily that you operate it. It would be reasonable to hire someone part-time (a retiree, perhaps) to come in and mind the store until you're available later that day or on Monday.