What is Religious Discrimination?

• Discrimination because of traditional religious beliefs: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Islam, Buddhism and other established religions
• Discrimination because of strong religious, nontraditional beliefs
• Discrimination because of membership in a religious organization or religious group
• Discrimination because of marriage (or association) to someone with traditional or non-traditional beliefs or because the spouse belongs to a religious organization or religious group

Types of Religious Discrimination by an Employer

• Hiring, firing, wrongful termination and promotions
• Job assignments and training
• Benefits and fringe Benefits
• Creating or having different conditions of employment because of religion.
• Harassment. It must rise to the level of a hostile or offensive environment. Occasional teasing is not enough. It can include the supervisor, co-worker or even a customer or client, if it creates a hostile environment
• Work segregation. Employees can’t be assigned tasks to prevent the employee from working with other employees or with customers because of his/her religion.

Reasonable Accommodations

Employers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania must be make reasonable accommodations for an employee’s religion.

• What’s required?
  • Employers should accommodate religion in scheduling, job reassignments, workplace policies and vacations.
  • Employers should accommodate for dress and grooming – such as headgear and hairstyle or not wearing pants. It’s advisable for the employee to communicate the religious requirements with the employer.
  • An employee can’t be forced to join in (or not join in) religious workplace activities.
• What’s not required – the employer doesn’t have to make non-minimal changes to the work environment. Non-minimal changes include changes that would affect workplace safety and workplace efficiency or infringes on the rights of others.

How Our Lawyers Can Help You with a Religious Discrimination Case

• We can help identify if you’ve been the subject of religious discrimination by your employer.
• We can help explain your workplace rights.
• We can let you know which federal and state laws protect you from religious discrimination.
• We can explain what damages you can pursue
• We can file your claim by the right deadline, in the right court, with the right evidence.

Our Firm’s Experience
The attorneys of Begelman & Orlow, P. C. have offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Contact our offices at 866-627-7052 or fill out our online form. We have 115 years combined experience protecting your rights in all phases of employment law, including religious discrimination and employment retaliation.