Religious Discrimination Lawyer in New York

Religious Discrimination and Harassment: Know Your Rights

Religious discrimination and harassment occurs when your boss, supervisor, or co-workers treat you unfairly because your religious or philosophical beliefs differ from theirs. It can also stem from the religious beliefs of someone you are associated with. Discrimination and harassment on the basis of a person’s religion are prohibited under the Federal, State, and New York City law. The major legislative act protecting people from religious discrimination and harassment is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which outlaws any forms of discrimination or harassment on the basis of a person’s race, color, religious beliefs, sex, etc.

Religious Discrimination

Basically there are two types of religious discrimination: direct and indirect discrimination.

Direct discrimination occurs when you are treated unfavorably because someone doesn’t appreciate your religious beliefs, or the beliefs of a person or group of people you are associated with.
Indirect discrimination happens when the company you are working for has seemingly neutral policies or procedures that put you and people who share your religious beliefs at a disadvantage.

Religious Harassment

Religious harassment is any offensive conduct that is frightening or intimidating for people of certain religious or philosophical beliefs and leads to a hostile, degrading work environment. Harassment may be obvious or hidden.It can be based either on a person’s religious practices, a religion as such, or a religious belief a person is associated with. Religious harassment may betargeted at an individual as well as at a group of people. It may take the form of degrading jokes, comments or other types of physical and verbal conduct

Preventing religious discrimination and harassment

Everyone has the right to be treated fairly in the workplace. However, if you feel that you’re harassed or discriminated because of your religious beliefs or practices, your first step to exercise this right will be filing a complaint to your employer or to the upper management of your company. If there’s an official grievance procedure, use it. Explain the situation and require putting a stop to the unwelcome conduct or unfair treatment. Keep track of all the discussions with the management as well as be sure to keep a copy of every document related to the matter. Unless the company takes satisfactory measures, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or state equivalent agency, that will help you resolve the conflict or take legal action. We advise contacting our office for assistance and guidance if you suspect that you are the target of Religious Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace

New York Religious Discrimination Lawyers

If you are a victim of religious intolerance in the workplace, contact Borrelli & Associates, P.L.L.C for an experienced New York Religious Discrimination Lawyer. Our attorneys are top in their field and are proud to provide their clients with valuable protection from religious harassment and discrimination.

Religious intolerance, whether it is insulting jokes, preferential treatment towards members of a certain religion or unfair treatment towards members of a different religion, or even a layoff or termination that you think is the result of someone’s religious beliefs, is unacceptable in the workplace. Religious harassment and discrimination are actions that violate employee rights, and are likely to lead to a hostile work environment which puts a strain on all employees in the workplace.

Religious Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace

In order to prevent religious discrimination and harassment in the workplace, employers are required to provide certain accommodations for the religious beliefs and practices of their workers, when it is possible without ‘undue hardship’ for the company. Common types of such accommodation may take the form of flexible working hours, modification of workplace procedures or company’s dress-code, voluntary shifts and changes of job assignments, etc. That doesn’t mean, however, that employers must provide for whatever accommodations an employee requests. For instance, you may be allowed to make up for the time you don’t work due to religious observance, or take an unpaid day-off.

If you are a victim of religious discrimination or harassment, do not hesitate to contact Borrelli & Associates, P.L.L.C. to consult with a qualified religious discrimination lawyer. Our employment lawyers are guaranteed to provide the best legal representation for your religious discrimination case.

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