How to Identify Religious Discrimination

One of the freedoms we are accorded in the United States is the freedom to practice whatever religion we choose. Under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act, employer discrimination of workers on the basis of religion is a federal crime. Follow these steps to help you identify religious discrimination in the workplace.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Know that employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees who feel the need to express their religious views in the workplace. For example, certain religions require that adherents pray at certain designated times of the day. An employee who practices this kind of religion must then be accorded the time and space to pray.
2. Understand that certain religions hold that their followers cannot work on the Sabbath. If this is the case, then the employer must take this into account when scheduling employees to work. If they fail to do so, this is a form of religious discrimination.
3. Know that certain religions wish for its adherents to wear religious garments, like head-coverings or robes. Thus, employers are expected to be flexible in their dress codes to allow for this type of attire.
4. Be aware that employers are allowed some degree of flexibility in terms of the way they make accommodations for religious differences in the workplace. This means that employers are not required to accept all employee suggestions in the way they accommodate them.
5. Adopt a reasonable attitude toward your employer before identifying their actions as religious discrimination. For example, if an employer decides not to provide you with a day off for religious observance because it might interfere with morale or with important business matters, you should take this into account and be willing to compromise when necessary.