RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AT WORK: CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS
People of all religious backgrounds deserve the opportunity to earn a living. Your religious beliefs — or lack of beliefs — should not determine your employment prospects.
Federal law protects employees’ religious rights in the workplace. Employers cannot discriminate on grounds of religion in:
- Hiring decisions
- Promotion opportunities
- Job duties
- Pay and benefits
You don’t have to be a member of a mainstream religion to pursue an employment discrimination claim. So long as your beliefs are religious in nature and sincerely held, you are entitled to the protections of federal law.
At Perkins Asbill, A Professional Law Corporation in Sacramento, California, we help employees take action against religious discrimination. Our attorneys handle employment law claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and courts at the state and federal levels. We apply more than 30 years of experience to right wrongs in the workplace.
What Counts As Discrimination?
There are several types of unlawful religious discrimination in the workplace:
- Overt discrimination through preferential treatment
- Disparate impact, or subtle employment decisions that have an unfair impact
- Harassment on the basis of religious beliefs
- Retaliation against employees for exercising their rights or reporting violations
Employers must also make reasonable accommodations for employees’ religious practices. Disagreements over the scope of this duty are common. For example, your employer may dispute whether your religious beliefs are “sincerely held” — and thus worthy of protection. Your employer might also argue that your beliefs are personal rather than religious in nature, or that the proposed accommodations would cause undue hardship.
We are familiar with all forms of religious discrimination. Our lawyers understand the law and procedural requirements for pursuing a claim. We can help you expose injustice, fight for fair compensation and restore your employment rights.
With more than 30 years of employment law experience, our lawyers know how to work through the intricacies of the California Labor Code, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and other applicable law. To get started, arrange a confidential consultation by calling (916) 446-2000.