Diversity in the workplace is a very important issue, because everyone should have the right to feel safe and respected at work. Everyone also has the right not to be treated negatively because of the discriminatory views of their co-workers or employer.
This protection from discrimination extends to many different areas, including gender, sexual orientation and religion. There are many protections in place for those who want to wear religious dress in the workplace, and those who require certain accommodations made in order to engage in their daily religious practices.
What is an employer not allowed to do?
There are certain things that an employer cannot do when hiring and other employee-related practices. They must firstly be aware of and sensitive to their employees’ religious needs. This means that they should not schedule important meetings on religious holidays, whenever possible.
They are also prohibited from refusing to hire someone, refusing to promote someone or firing someone because of his or her religious beliefs or requirements.
Insensitive comments, slurs, teasing and bullying is something that religious people unfortunately sometimes experience in the workplace. This type of behavior should never be tolerated, and can be defined as workplace harassment if it is impactful enough to create a hostile work environment.
Reasonable accommodation
All disputes that involve religious discrimination must ask the question of whether a reasonable accommodation was made. In other words, the employer must make a reasonable effort to make the work environment suitable for a religious person. It is important to stand up for your right to be treated fairly in the workplace.
Source: FindLaw, “Examples of Religious Discrimination in the Workplace,” accessed March 01, 2018
