The religion you practice should not have any impact on your ability to work and make an income. Unfortunately, however, many people across the United States are denied employment, fired or harassed in their workplace because of their religion.
If you have been made to feel uncomfortable in your workplace because of your choice of religion, it is important that you do not tolerate this type of behavior. By taking swift action, you may be able to gain back damages, particularly if you lost income based on your mistreatment.
How am I protected from religious discrimination in the workplace?
There are state and federal laws in place that protect you from religious discrimination in the workplace. Problems can occur when one person’s religious beliefs conflict with an employer’s, coworker’s or manager’s religious beliefs.
When it comes to religious protections in employment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is perhaps the most notable law in place. This law makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an individual because of their religion when they are hiring, firing or making another employment-related decisions.
What types of actions are prohibited in the workplace when it comes to a person’s religion?
An employer cannot refuse to hire, refuse to promote, or fire a person based on their religion. The employer, in addition, cannot give the employee a different, heavier or less profitable workload because of their religion, or give them stricter rules for a promotion.
Taking a discriminatory action based upon the perception of a person’s religion is also illegal. For example, if an employer refuses to consider hiring a person because of their name, which they associate with a certain religion, this is an unlawful act.
If you are worried that your religion or the religion that you may be perceived to practice has led to your being treated unfairly in the workplace, you should investigate your legal rights. By being aware of your protections under the law, you will be able to take the appropriate action to protect your career for years to come.
