I represent employees with religious discrimination claims. Religious discrimination at your work can take different forms, such as if your employer fires, refuse to hire, or refuses to promote you because of your religious beliefs. The law prohibits your employer from asking you about your religious beliefs during an interview for a job. Your employer cannot force you to take part in any sort of religious ceremony or celebration, and any decisions regarding your duties, promotions, income or any other factor that would substantially affect the scope of your employment cannot be made based on your religious beliefs. In addition, both New York State and New York City law require that an employer allow you to take days off in observance of a Sabbath or other Holy Day (the day off may be without pay, and the employer may require the employee to make up the time at a later date).

There are essentially two kinds of religious discrimination recognized by federal law.

(1) Failure to make a reasonable accommodation: Once you have notified your employer that a bona fide religious belief conflicts with a job requirement, the employer must make reasonable efforts to accommodate you. An employer’s failure to enter into an interactive process with you and/or failure to reasonably accommodate you may violate Federal or New York State law. Most often, accommodations sought by employees take the form of asking for certain days off or time off during the day (often for prayer breaks), not to have to shave, and to be permitted to wear religious garments.

(2) Religious harassment/disparate treatment: It is illegal for your employer and/or coworkers to discriminate, harass, or in any way alter the terms and conditions of your employment because of your religious beliefs. An employer cannot forced you to participate in religious activities.

Additionally, it is unlawful for your employer to retaliate against you for opposing employment practices that discriminate against you based on your religion or for your action in filing a discrimination charge, testifying, or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

If you believe that you are being discriminated against at work because of your religion,  you should be aware that laws exist to protect you from unlawful religious discrimination. I would be pleased to meet and discuss your concerns with you. There is no charge for the initial consultation.