How Do I Respond to Religious Discrimination in the Workplace?
Most forms of discrimination in the workplace are prohibited, including religious discrimination.
Religious discrimination can many forms. Some of the most common forms of religious discrimination can include not paying an employee correctly, denying them promotion, or not providing satisfactory accommodation. It may also take the form of such things as taunts or derogatory comments.
If you have experienced any form of religious discrimination at work, you should first attempt to resolve it by informing your employer. However, if your employer cannot or does not stop the discrimination, you might be able to file a claim with a state or federal anti-discrimination body such as the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC).
How to Handle Religious Discrimination
Even though religious discrimination at work may take many different forms, it is critically important that you attempt to obtain any evidence of it and keep a record—detailing when the discrimination occurred and in what form it was experienced—as soon as you start experiencing it. Given that religious discrimination might be widespread in your workplace, other coworkers might also have experienced it and can become valuable witnesses if you choose to file a complaint.
You should report the incidents of religious discrimination to your Human Resources (HR) department, a supervisor or manager. You are advised to do this by letter and keep a copy of this letter (a.k.a., initial complaint) in addition to keeping copies of any response(s) you get. If your complaint is not responded to satisfactorily or ignored, then it may be time to file a claim with an anti-discrimination agency. If you work in a workplace with 15 or more employees, this anti-discriminatory agency will be the EEOC. If you work in a smaller workplace, you should contact the equivalent state agency
Whichever agency you have filed your complaint with should investigate the possible breach of employment discrimination laws. This may mean contacting your employer and organizing mediation or a hearing with you. Generally, these agencies will attempt to resolve the discrimination before taking legal action. If they do not resolve your complaint, then you may be issued with a right-to-sue letter with which you can file a claim against your employer through the civil court. You should attach any evidence of religious discrimination by your employer with your claim to help support your allegations.
If you do go ahead with suing your employer, you are advised to get legal help from an employment law attorney.
Get Help With Your Religious Discrimination Claim
Religious discrimination against an employee simply because of their religious affiliation is illegal in every state in the United States. As such, federal and state agencies in the U.S. will investigate a complaint of religious discrimination if you file a claim within the time limits allowed.
You are advised to use an employment attorney if you intend taking legal action yourself.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating employment attorney who subscribes to the website.
