Religious Discrimination

Employers are prohibited from discriminating against their employees on the basis of their employees’ religious beliefs (or lack of beliefs). These prohibitions extend to religions, agnosticism, or other strongly held personal beliefs. Employees are protected in this are against employer discrimination for training, layoff, benefits, promotions, termination, pay, and hiring.

Offending remarks about an employee in the workplace surrounding religious beliefs and practices are not allowed by the law, and if persistent and widespread, may constitute a hostile working environment. Employers must provide employees with reasonable accommodations to their unique religious principles including special break or work schedules, dress and grooming. In most cases, employers are not permitted to require workers to adhere to any particular religious practice or belief, with the exception of certain religious-affiliated employers. Examples of religious discrimination in the workplace that are prohibited follows:

• An employee who is denied a job, a promotion, or is fired because of religious beliefs.
• An employee who is denied a request to take time off in observance of a special religious observance or holiday, when permission holds no harm to the business.
• An employee who is denied by an employer the opportunity to follow the employee’s special religious practices while at work including, religious clothing, prayer breaks, etc.
• An employee who is the object of derision or harassment in the workplace because of the employee’s religious beliefs or practices.
• An employee who is discouraged or forbidden from discussing the employee’s religious beliefs with co-workers, or is threatened, demoted, or terminated for such actions.
• An employee who is coerced by an employer to abandon, alter, or adopt a religious belief or practice as a condition of employment.

The law firm of Tarshish Cody PLC will aggressively defend the rights of every employee who has been targeted for abuses in the workplace involving religious beliefs or practices. Call our attorneys and schedule a free initial consultation at 952-361-5556 (or fill out the free case evaluation form below).

Attorney Practicing In This Area

Kyle Kosieracki