Religious Rights of Employers as Protection against Discrimination

Americans were given the chance to choose and practice their own religion as stated under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law specifically prohibits discrimination based on religious beliefs. Such provision meant that the companies, as well as employers who have 15 or more workers, should not implement policies that will single out employees and applicants due to their religion.

Under the numerous employment processes like hiring, wages, training, leaves, recruitment, job assignment, promotions, benefits, lay-offs, and termination. Most labor organizations, employment agencies, and federal government agencies are also covered by such principle. To help employees in recognizing their religious rights as stated through the Title VII, here are some provisions they should know:

• Company owners should not provide special treatments to employees or job applicants because of their religion except when religious accommodation is needed.

• Company owners must not force a worker to join a religious activity or gathering as an employment requirement.

• Company owners must provide reasonable accommodations to workers from different religions provided that it will not cause undue hardship for them.

• Company owners must prevent or stop religious discrimination once it happens to workers.

The given provisions are also present within the California Fair Employment and Housing Act or FEHA. FEHA is regarded as the main state statute that forbids company owners, employment agencies, labor organizations, or any person from inciting, encouraging, or compelling the acts of discrimination towards employees. Moreover, employers are also forbidden to do retaliatory acts against workers who oppose the discriminative employment practices within their workplaces by filing a discrimination charge or by testifying in an investigation on the company.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and FEHA are not the only statutes that protect employees against abusive employees who commit religious discrimination. Employees who feel that they are harassed or discriminated against because of their religion are advised to seek the help of a Los Angeles discrimination attorney especially if the case occurred in California.

Such lawyer has the capacity to gather evidences and to look for witnesses who can testify for his or her clients during litigation. Through the lawyer’s help, the aggrieved former employees can recover their losses through damages awards.