Freedom of religion is the cornerstone of what America is built on. Our country has enacted
laws that prevent discrimination based on religion, especially in the workplace. The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted to prohibit employers from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law makes it illegal for any employer to discriminate in any manner against an employee or potential employee based on these factors. Employees may face many challenges in proving these types of cases. However, cases based on religious discrimination are generally easier to prove.
The Orange County religious discrimination lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates have the experience, knowledge, and resources to handle all types of workplace discrimination cases. We are dedicated religious discrimination attorneys who will do whatever it takes to protect the legal rights of discriminated employees and help obtain the full money damages they are entitled to. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, Riverside and San Diego, our employment law attorneys represent wrongfully discriminated employees across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please call 949-799-4057.
Religious Discrimination Defined
Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act illegalizes different types of discrimination in the workplace, including religious discrimination. The statute prohibits employers from factoring in employees’ religious beliefs when making the following types of employment decisions:
- Hiring
- Firing
- Promotions
- Compensation
- Training
- Assignments
Moreover, Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who file charges based on religious discrimination or tolerating religious-based harassment at the workplace. The law defines harassment as anything that results in an offensive, hostile or intimidating workplace for employees. Retaliation involves an employer, or any of their employees, treating another employee poorly for filing a claim based on religious discrimination.
What Exactly Is Racial Discrimination?
Employees who have faced racial discrimination at work have been treated differently based on their color or race. While this type of discrimination might seem like it’s always obvious, in many cases, it can be very difficult to identify. Sometimes, employers may not even realize they are discriminating, as it isn’t overtly intentional. There are also instances where racial discrimination is obvious, and many employees suffer the consequences, but no one ever says anything about it. This can often be due to a fear of retaliation.
The reasons discrimination goes unreported are numerous, which is why employees need to hire an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the complexities of such hostile environments. If you feel like you or someone you know might have been a victim of workplace racial discrimination, it’s important to know that waws are taken very seriously when it comes to combating racial discrimination.
What Is Defined as Religion Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act?
However, the Title VII definition of religion does not include economic, social and political beliefs. In other words, an EEOC religious discrimination claim based on economic, social or political beliefs will not be successful because an employer is not obligated under the law to give you time off to attend a political rally or social gathering.
Employers can use the guidelines provided by the EEO to differentiate between sincerely held beliefs and attempts at subterfuge. If you believe that your employer has violated these guidelines and discriminated against you based on your legitimate religious belief, you may have a valid discrimination case. The Orange County religious discrimination attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas can protect your legal rights and help you get the full damages you deserve under the law.
Who Must Adhere to Federal Religious Discrimination Laws?
The discrimination provisions of Title VII apply to the following employment sectors:
- Employment agencies
- Labor organizations
- Federal, state, and local employees
- Private employers with a minimum of 15 workers
California’s anti-discrimination laws apply to:
- State agencies and companies
- Local agencies and companies
- Private companies with a minimum of five employees
Examples of Religious Discrimination in the Workplace
Below are some common types of religious discrimination. Your employer may be subject to an EEOC claim if they:
- Refuse to hire someone based on their religious belief.
- Only promote employees or potential employees belonging to one specific faith.
- Fire everyone with one specific religious belief.
- Refuse to hire an individual because they observe the Sabbath on Saturday based on the Jewish faith.
- Fire employees for missing work on a religious holiday.
- Promote or make a job conditional based on attending a religious service or class.
- Reassign an employee based on their religious garb or grooming practices (i.e. Sikh with uncut hair, Muslim wearing a hijab, Jewish person wearing a yarmulke).
- Mock or tease an employee for their religious practices, grooming, clothing, etc.
- Allow other employees to harass or alienate co-workers based on religion
The Orange County religious discrimination attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas will thoroughly investigate the facts of your case to make sure you bring a successful religious discrimination claim against your employer. Our legal team is compassionate, yet aggressive, in fighting for the legal rights of clients who are treated poorly based on their religious beliefs.
Damages and Relief for Religious Discrimination
Whenever religious discrimination is found at a workplace, the goal of the law is to put the victim of discrimination in the same or nearly the same position that the individual would have been but for the discrimination. The exact type of relief depends on the specific type of discriminatory action and the impact it has on the victim.
Remedies may also include compensatory and punitive damages if you can prove that your employer intentionally discriminated against you based on your religious beliefs. Compensatory damages are designed to compensate the victims for:
- Out of pocket expenses
- Emotional harm and mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The court may also award punitive damages in an attempt to punish the employer for having committed an especially malicious or reckless act of discrimination.
However, it should be noted that the law does limit the amount of money damages you can recover depending on the size of your employer:
- Employers with 15 to 100 workers are limited to $50,000
- Employers with 101 to 200 workers are limited to $100,00
- Employers with 201-500 workers are limited to $200,000
- Employers with more than 500 workers are limited to $300,000
These types of discrimination cases are generally complicated. You need to hire an experienced attorney to fight for your rights and hold your employer accountable for treating you poorly and illegally based on your religious beliefs. Our Orange County religious discrimination attorneys will take all necessary steps to make sure that your employer that is guilty of discrimination compensates you for all the different damages you may be entitled to.
Contact an Experienced Orange County Religious Discrimination Attorney
If you or someone you know believes that your employer is discriminating against you based on your religious beliefs, you need to take immediate action. You do not have to tolerate being discriminated against just because you have a certain religious belief.
The Orange County religious discrimination attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help you fight for your rights and recover the maximum money damages that you deserve under the law. We specialize in handling a wide variety of employment law cases – especially religious discrimination.
Our firm is dedicated to helping individuals who have been discriminated against by their employers or potential employers. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, Riverside and San Diego, our employment trial attorneys represent victims of wrongful discrimination across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 949-799-4057.
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