Can my faith be a factor in my termination? Laws are in place to protect people from losing their jobs as a result of their religious convictions. However, in certain instances, companies did not abide by these regulations, which led to employees being harassed, subjected to discrimination, and fired as a result of their faith. These are all illegal practices.
Keep reading to learn about cases in which people have lost their job or been harassed due to their religion. Then learn what you can do about it. Contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 to request a free legal consultation.
Could my religious beliefs cause me to lose my job?
An engineer who worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District reportedly filed a wrongful termination case last month, according to a story in the Los Angeles Daily News. He claims that he lost his job as a result of complaining about being harassed for disclosing structural safety issues and for his Muslim beliefs, according to the news story.
The engineer alleges in his complaint that his supervisor advised him not to disclose that he was a practicing Muslim because the school system dislikes devout Muslims. He claims that he was singled out when he started taking longer lunch breaks on Fridays so that he could go to a nearby mosque for prayers.
The engineer said that once he revealed more about his Muslim beliefs, he was subjected to unfavorable performance evaluations and under pressure to retire. His case makes claims of retaliation, harassment, and breaches of the Labor Code.
What does it mean to be the victim of unlawful harassment due to my religion?
It is not harassment to make the occasional remark on someone’s religion, customs, attire, or grooming methods. However, the behavior becomes religious harassment when it is so pervasive or severe that it fosters a hostile work environment. This behavior may and should be handled by the law.
The first step is to talk to HR
It is always in your best interests to inform HR or your supervisor if you experience religious harassment. In some cases, unless you have reported the harassment, your employer will not be held responsible. You can send a letter to management if your organization lacks an established process for handling complaints of harassment.
Document everything you have
The more proof you have of the type and frequency of religious harassment you faced, the better. Keep thorough records of the encounter and be careful to list the identities of any witnesses to the harassment.
Talk to an attorney for help
Contact PLBH for assistance in retaliating against religious harassment. We can assist you in submitting a formal complaint to the appropriate state agencies so that your case may be looked into. We can also help you with any legal steps that may be required to obtain restitution for the abuse you have experienced. Call us now at (800) 435-7542 to get started.