Religious Discrimination in the Workplace (and Why You May Need a Religious Discrimination Lawyer)

Religious discrimination is against the law—but unfortunately, it still happens in Glendale, Los Angeles, and other communities throughout California.

What is Religious Discrimination?

Religious discrimination, as it applies to the workplace, involves treating someone unfavorably simply because of his or her religious beliefs.

How Religious Discrimination is Illegal

Federal and state laws on religious discrimination are very clear: An employer can’t discriminate against someone based on his or her religion when it comes to employment—including:

• Firing
• Fringe benefits
• Hiring
• Job assignments
• Layoffs
• Pay
• Promotions
• Training

What Are Reasonable Accommodations?

The law requires certain employers to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s religious beliefs or practices. There are some employers that are exempt from making reasonable accommodations. Additionally, there are some employers that don’t have to make reasonable accommodations because doing so would cause “more than a minimal burden” on their business operations.

Some reasonable accommodations can include creating flexible schedules to allow employees to observe religious holidays, attend church or pray; allowing employees to trade shifts for personal religious reasons; or making appropriate job reassignments. In some cases, employers can be required to make modifications to workplace practices and policies, as well.

For the most part, employers must reasonably accommodate a worker’s dress and grooming practices if they are tied to the employer’s religion (such as wearing a yarmulke or headscarf, or wearing a beard or particular hairstyle.

Religious Harassment

It’s also illegal to harass someone in the workplace because of his or her religious beliefs. There are several types of harassment that can create a hostile work environment, including offensive remarks about someone’s beliefs or religious practices.

While the law doesn’t protect people from rude comments or insensitive jokes, it does protect victims whose workplace has become hostile because the harassment has become severe or pervasive. It also protects workers from harassment that results in an adverse employment decision, such as being demoted or even fired.

It’s important that you know your boss doesn’t have to be the one harassing you in order for you to bring a religious discrimination or harassment suit against your employer.

You may have a case if the harasser or discriminator is:

• Your supervisor
• Someone else’s supervisor who is also employed by your employer
• A co-worker
• A client or customer of your employer

Naturally, every case is different, so you should talk to a religious discrimination attorney in Glendale or L.A. to find out whether your employer may have violated the law in your case.

What if a Person Doesn’t Have a “Religion”?

People who don’t subscribe to a particular religion or who aren’t part of one of the major religions (such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism) are also protected under anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.

The protective laws in place apply to people who have sincerely held religious, ethical, or moral beliefs.

Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney About Religious Discrimination in Glendale or L.A.?

If you need to discuss your situation with a religious discrimination lawyer, call us right away at 818-659-8331 or toll-free at 800-774-4163. We’ve helped people in several discrimination cases, and we’d love the opportunity to help you, too.