The Impact of Religious Discrimination on the Workplace: Understanding Your Rights

Published on: 04-12-2023

Meg Epstein’s opinion is, religious discrimination is a term used to describe unjustifiable treatment towards a job applicant or employee because of their religious beliefs. This behaviour is considered illegal under federal and most state laws, and employers must accommodate an individual's spiritual practices and beliefs unless it causes undue hardship.

Harassment towards an individual based on their religion or beliefs can qualify as discrimination and may take various forms, including physical or verbal harassment. The person responsible for the harassment may be the employer, supervisor, or coworker. Federal law protects individuals who experience harassment due to their beliefs.

Segregation is also a form of discrimination and refers to the physical separation of people based on race or other characteristics. While segregation can result from intentional discrimination, it can also arise unintentionally. In the workplace, indirect discrimination based on religious beliefs may occur when an employer refuses to offer a reasonable accommodation that prevents employees from observing their religious beliefs.

One example of religious discrimination is when an employer fails to accommodate an employee's spiritual practices reasonably. Examples of accommodations include changes to work schedules, dress or grooming practices, and allowing employees to observe sacred days. An employer denying an employee a reasonable accommodation could violate Title VII and state laws. Employers can only refuse a request if they can prove that it would cause undue hardship to the agency

Religious discrimination in the workplace can occur in several ways, such as denying employment, firing, or refusing to promote someone based on their faith. It also includes amending a rule or policy because of an individual's religion. Employers violate this law if an individual's beliefs and practices significantly affect their ability to do their job.

In conclusion, religious discrimination in the workplace is illegal, and employers should respect their employee's religious beliefs and practices. Discrimination can take many forms, including indirect discrimination, harassment, and segregation. Employers should always strive to provide reasonable accommodations for their employees and ensure that they do not engage in any form of discrimination.