Employee Sues Thermo Fisher Over Fossil Fuel Retirement Investment Options

Andrew Hartley, a science director at Thermo Fisher Scientific and a United Methodist, has filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against his employer. Hartley alleges that the company failed to provide a retirement investment option free from fossil fuel companies, which he views as a violation of his religious duty to practice creation stewardship. He cites biblical passages, including Genesis and Leviticus 25:23, as the foundation for his belief that Christians are mandated to protect the environment.

According to the court filing, Hartley requested a fossil fuel-free investment option in October 2024, but the company determined the request did not meet the criteria for religious accommodation. After receiving no response to subsequent follow-up attempts throughout 2025, Hartley initiated legal action. He is seeking a court order to compel the company to offer such investment options, along with damages and legal fees. A spokesperson for Thermo Fisher Scientific stated that the company does not comment on pending litigation. Legal observers note that the case could establish a significant precedent regarding religious accommodations in workplace retirement plans.