While many men (and presumably some women) have facial hair for cosmetic purposes or reasons of vanity, some people have religious beliefs or convictions about having facial hair. Some are organized religious that have well known beliefs, while others could have an individualized belief.

Can an employer in the US require an employee trim or remove their facial if they have a deep conviction/religious belief about having untrimmed or long facial hair if there is no compelling reason to restrict that employee from having facial hair (safety or customer facing appearances)? Does there have to be a specific justification or can simply claiming that it is one’s deeply held belief sufficient, if there is an exemption?