Common Examples of Religious Discrimination in Employment

Many different forms of employment discrimination are unlawful in Florida under the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA), which is a state law, and under various federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Religious discrimination is unlawful under both state and federal law in Florida, and it is important for job applicants and employees to have a clear idea of what constitutes unlawful religious discrimination in South Florida workplaces.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines religious discrimination as unfavorable treatment of a job applicant or employee because of that applicant’s or employee’s religious beliefs. It also includes unfavorable treatment on the basis of the religion of an applicant’s or employee’s spouse. A person can be protected against religious discrimination whether they have sincerely held religious beliefs in a traditional, organized religion or “sincerely held religious, ethical, or moral beliefs” that are not associated with a traditional religion.

Learning About Common Examples of Religious Discrimination 

Religious discrimination can be subtle, or it can be overt. There are various ways in which it can occur, including job advertisements created or promoted by an employer, harassment perpetrated by an employer or supervisor, harassment perpetrated by a co-worker or a customer or other third party in the workplace, or an employer’s failure to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s religious beliefs or practices. Some of the most common examples of religious discrimination include:

• Advertising a job opening only for employees of a particular religion, or, alternatively, urging employees of a particular religion not to apply;
• Segregating employees in the workplace on the basis of religion;
• Assigning employees in religious garb to non-public-facing roles in the workplace;
• Creating a dress code that prohibits employees from wearing a particular type of religious garb and failing to provide accommodation;
• Having a grooming policy that effectively discriminates against employees of a particular religion;
• Refusing to provide employees time for prayer or other required religious activities;
• Paying employees of a particular religion more or less than other employees;
• Promoting employees of a certain religion, or demoting employees of a certain religion;
• Providing benefits to employees on the basis of their religion; and/or
• Requiring employees to participate in religious activities as a condition of their employment.

Religious discrimination can take many other different forms, as well, so it is essential to seek advice from an employment discrimination lawyer if you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a job applicant or an employee in the workplace.

Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Religious Discrimination Lawyer

 No job applicant or employee should ever be subject to religious discrimination, yet various forms of employment discrimination occur with some frequency in Florida workplaces. If you believe you have been the victim of religious discrimination in applying for a job or in your current place of employment, it is critical to seek advice from an experienced Palm Beach Gardens religious discrimination attorney at Sconzo Law Office as soon as possible. Contact us today for assistance and to find out about filing an employment discrimination claim.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0760/Sections/0760.01.html

eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination#:~:text=Title%20VII%20also%20prohibits%20workplace,actual%20or%20feared%20customer%20preference