Discrimination based on your religious beliefs or affiliation is religious discrimination. When religious discrimination happens, it is illegal. That means you have the full right to fight it with the help of a lawyer. Discrimination of any kind can be difficult to spot. As far as religious discrimination is concerned, there are three basic ways to identify it.
They are:
- When people are allowed to be harassed by fellow employees because of their religion
- Mistreating employees with regards to salary, vacation time, or benefits based on their religion
- Expecting or even forcing employees to take part in activities that may go against their religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the employment law that makes religious discrimination illegal. Federal law is clear about employers having a flexible attitude when it comes to their employees’ religious beliefs.
An employer should permit employees to take religious holidays and allow them to wear clothing that is in tune with the employee’s beliefs. What gets tricky is when an employer asks an employee to work on certain days or a certain number of hours that conflicts with the employee’s religious beliefs. This falls under undue hardship rules. The exception is if accommodating an employee’s religious beliefs or practices would impose an undue hardship on the employer (that is, more than a minimal burden on the operation of the business).
What Can You Do?
If you feel there is a reasonable amount of employment discrimination evidence, there are three things you need to do. First, you will need to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The critical thing to remember here is that complaints need to be filed within 180 days of the incident.
Religious Discrimination Lawyer in Arlington, Virginia
The truth is, discrimination law, of any kind, is a highly complex world. At some point, you will need to get the services of experienced lawyers to work your case. The lawyer’s job entails filing a complaint and gathering evidence that will help you win the case and reach a settlement.
A law firm such as HKM Employment Attorneys LLP has the knowledge and experience to help you win a religious discrimination lawsuit. Contact our Virginia employment lawyers in Arlington for a Consultation. We can offer legal advice to help you decide whether to file a discrimination claim.
