Employment Discrimination: Religion & The Workplace - Shegerian Law

Employment Discrimination: Religion & The Workplace

Employment Discrimination | Shegerian & Associates Can Help You Fight It!

Employment discrimination can occur in a number of ways, including a denial of or an infringement upon religious rights. It can be considered a form of harassment and unfair treatment. A violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act incorporates discriminatory actions against an employee’s religion. Employers should try to provide reasonable accommodations for their workers in order to avoid religious misconduct.

Chicago School District Lawsuit

Safoorah Khan, a former employee of a middle school in a Chicago suburb, claims she was forced to resign after being denied a trip that was based on religious reasons. Khan is a devout Muslim who requested 3 weeks off from work in order to embark on a pilgrimage to Mecca. After being denied the request (due to her being the only math lab instructor and it being close to the end of a semester), she moved forward with her plans.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on her behalf claiming that the actions constituted religious employment discrimination because Khan should not have had to choose between her job and her faith. Accordingly, the actions of the school board forced her resignation. The Justice Department alleges that the employer violated the Civil Rights Act.

Fighting Employment Discrimination in California

The California Fair Employment & Housing Act also prohibits discriminatory actions that stereotype an employee based on their religion, or deny them their legal rights. If you are experiencing illegal treatment in the workplace, then you should contact Shegerian & Associates for help. We are prepared to fight aggressively for your employee rights!