Religious discrimination and harassment

One of the linchpins of our democracy is our right to practice whatever religion we choose. Whether you attend church, temple, mosque, meetinghouse, synagogue, or nothing at all, you should be treated fairly and justly with your fellow citizens, regardless of your sincerely held religious belief.

Do you feel that your boss doesn’t like you because of your religion? Do people tell jokes about you in the workplace that make you uncomfortable? Has your employer bullied you because of your religion? Do you feel you were fired because or your religion? You have rights. We can help!

What are your workplace rights?

Your employer can’t discriminate or harass you because of your religion. Your employer must provide reasonable accommodation for your religious practices, unless doing so would cause an undue burden on your employer.

  It is illegal for your boss to treat you differently because he or she does not share your religion or beliefs.  

It is illegal for your employer to to bully, harass, and discriminate against you on the basis of your religious beliefs or practices. This means that your boss can’t treat you differently by reducing your pay, title, or hours, or wrongfully terminating you because of your religion. Your employer must also provide you reasonable accommodations to go to church or other leave on religious days, to practice salat, or to adhere to religious clothing and grooming standards.

If you have been harassed or bullied based on your religious beliefs, practices, or lack thereof, please give us a call. It is illegal for your boss to treat you differently because he or she does not share your religion or beliefs. If you are treated unjustly in your workplace because of your religion, you have rights!

Are you being harassed?

It can be especially hard to feel yourself being ostracized or outcast because you practice your religion. Being harassed can be very painful.

If your boss or co-workers have made remarks or someone has left something hateful for you to find, call us. We can educate you about your many options.

Is your boss retaliating against you because you complained about discrimination or harassment?

Perhaps you already suspect that you are being bullied because of your religion. Maybe you told your employer or someone else that you believe your boss is treating you wrongfully because of your religion. You were very courageous to speak up! You have the right to feel safe and to have job security even after complaining.

  You have the right to go to church or other leave on religious days, to practice salat, or to adhere to religious clothing standards.  

Retaliation based upon your complaints of religious discrimination or harassment is illegal. Your boss may say that you weren’t being discriminated against because of your religion. But even if your employer can prove that, it’s never right to discriminate against you because you spoke up. If you feel you’ve been retaliated against because of your religion, let us help you.

How can I prove my boss harassed or discriminated against me because of my religion?

The appellate court confirmed in the case of Bodett v. CoxCom, Inc. that religious discrimination and harassment occur when your boss illegally demotes, harasses, or fires you based upon your religious practices.

To prove your case, you only need the judge or jury to believe that you were of a certain religion and that a substantial motivation for your firing, demotion, or harassment was due to your religion.

  We've handled many cases where someone has been discriminated and harassed because of their religion, but it wasn’t in writing.  

If you have witnesses and documents, of course it’s much easier to prove your case. However, if you don’t have these things, don’t feel discouraged. We have handled many cases where someone has been discriminated and harassed because of their religion, but no one was around to see it and it wasn’t in writing. In fact, it’s pretty common for bad employers to wait until a time when you’re alone before they harass you.

If you’ve been treated differently because of your religion, that’s wrong. You deserve to be treated with respect.

We can help you fight for justice.

When your employer judges you because of your religion, you can feel hopeless. Employers should not get away with it! By standing up for your rights, you are standing up for yourself. You are also standing up for everyone who has ever suffered the injustice of discrimination and harassment.

Please make an appointment for a free consultation in our Newport Beach office. You can contact us by email or phone. We want to help.