Religious Discrimination
Religious Discrimination Is Unacceptable in Massachusetts Workplaces
Massachusetts and federal law strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment against employees on the basis of their religion and/or religious beliefs. The law protects not only members of traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, but also any employee with sincerely held ethical or moral beliefs.
Despite these laws, religious discrimination still occurs in the workplace. Religious discrimination can have impacts far beyond the potential negative career implications. For many employees, religious discrimination is humiliating, traumatizing, and ostracizing. It can also interfere with their ability to engage with family and community.
Have You Been Discriminated Against Or Harassed?
As with other types of discrimination, religious discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, both subtle and overt, including:
- Failing to reasonably accommodate time off to observe holidays
- Unreasonably refusing to accommodate requests not to perform services or tasks that are against your religious beliefs
- Offensive or derogatory remarks about your religion or beliefs
- Basing hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, or benefits on your religion or beliefs
- Segregating employees of certain religions or beliefs (e.g., keeping them out of public-facing positions or directing them to certain offices or regions)
- Forcing (or coercing) an employee to participate (or not participate) in a religious activity and/or negatively treating an employee for not participating a religious activity
- Failing or refusing to reasonably accommodate dress or grooming practices that are held for religious reasons, including, for example, head coverings, hairstyles and garments.
Discrimination and harassment can also come from your coworkers. Your employer has an obligation to prevent your coworkers from engaging in such behavior and they may be liable if they fail to prevent it.
Discrimination can be based on real or perceived religion or religious beliefs. For example, it’s illegal for your coworker to harass you because they believe you’re Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, atheist, etc. – even if you don’t practice that religion.
Finally, religious discrimination can also involve treating someone differently because that person is married to (or associated with) an individual of a particular religion.
We Can Help You Fight Religious Discrimination
Whatever the nature of the religious discrimination in your workplace, Regan Strom can help in your pursuit of justice. Our attorneys have advised and represented employees in all types of discrimination cases, including religious discrimination. We understand the many nuanced issues which may exist, and through our unique approach to employment litigation, we can create an aggressive strategy that focuses on results and meets your needs.
If you’ve been discriminated against because of your religious beliefs, contact Regan Strom today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation.
