There are reportedly over 4,500 religions in the world and the good news is that members of all of those religions are protected from discrimination right here in Glendale. Federal laws prohibit religious discrimination across the country, but California laws cast that religious discrimination net even wider to provide more coverage to more people and their religious practices, especially when it comes to religious discrimination in the workplace.
Religious discrimination
Religious discrimination occurs when an employer discriminates in the terms or conditions of someone’s employment based on that person’s religion or religious practices. Religious discrimination laws protect both employees and potential employees. Our Glendale religious discrimination attorneys at the Rager Law Firm are passionate about discrimination rights and we want to see that victims of religious discrimination receive the recovery to which they are entitled.
Examples of religious discrimination
See below for examples of some religious discrimination scenarios we frequently see in our offices.
- Making people with religious clothing work in a separate area, out of the site of customers because the employer fears customers might be offended or uncomfortable.
- Disallowing religious attire such as a hijab or yarmulke because it makes coworkers uncomfortable.
- Refusing to allow reasonable accommodation for religious practices such as time and a quiet place for prayer during the workday.
- An employer permitting, turning a blind eye, or ignoring reports of religious harassment in the workplace.
- Refusing to hire or promote someone because of his or her religion.
- Opting to promote or hire a particular person over others because the employer favors that person’s religion.
Reasonable accommodation
Reasonable accommodations must be made for employees’ religious practices unless it would place an undue hardship on the employer. In looking at undue hardship in California, courts will look to how much of a financial impact making an accommodation will actually have on a company to determine whether or not it is reasonable.
Defenses
An employer’s religious discrimination defenses may include:
- Refusing to give an employee a regular day off of work for worship because it would pass over another employee’s seniority who has already requested that day off of work.
- The defendant is a religious corporation that fired someone because his or her conduct is inconsistent with the employer’s religious precept.
- Wearing religious garb that presents a health and safety danger such as loose skirts or headwear that has the potential to get caught in a factory line machine.
Reasons for not reporting religious discrimination
As our Glendale religious discrimination attorneys know, victims of religious discrimination are often afraid to file a claim for various reasons such as the fear of losing his or her job or being otherwise retaliated against, fear of being the subject of office gossip, fear of looking like a trouble maker at work, or fear of having a hard time finding other employment. The Rager Law Firm employment law experts understand these fears, but we firmly believe in discrimination victims receiving fair compensation and employers being held accountable for illegal workplace conduct. Our attorneys will work to see that not only are you compensated for your damages but also that you are protected from employer retaliation after your claim is filed.