Attorney to File a Case Against Employer for Anti-Muslim Discrimination
At the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, we believe that all people have the basic right to practice their own religions of choice, and that these people should not be unfairly treated in the workplace. Some businesses have prejudiced or biased management and administration, and those in positions of power may purposely discriminate against an employee because he or she practices a certain religion. They may carry out certain actions or make detrimental decisions concerning the employee’s job, making it difficult or impossible to complete duties and work in a safe, tolerant environment. Although our society has grown more accepting, there are still cases where discrimination occurs, and those affected by it may be confused and hurt, not knowing which way to turn or how best to proceed. Clients will ask us questions about anti-Muslim discrimination in the workplace. Examples of such questions include:
- My employer won’t let me wear religious headwear. What do I do?
- My job won’t give me time to pray at work. Can I sue my employer?
- I need a Muslim discrimination attorney in Los Angeles. Who should I contact?
Reasonable Religious Accommodation Information
The term that is used to describe religious practices and their relationship with the workplace is reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation is the adjustment of facets of the work that environment that will allow, enable, or facilitate a person to practice his religion while at his job. When the accommodation is religious in nature, it is called a religious accommodation.
Reasonable accommodation is not something that employers must automatically grant; they must have a notice from an employee who is requesting the accommodation, and the request must not create an undue hardship on the company. An undue hardship can be described as anything that negatively and effectively impacts the company, whether it accrues high costs, creates an inefficient work environment, violates the rights of fellow employees, unfairly divides the workload of fellow employees, or compromises the safety of the workplace. Generally speaking, most religious accommodation requests will not pose any of the aforementioned threats.
In terms of Muslim discrimination, some examples of reasonable accommodation requests include time set aside during the day for prayer, adjusted work break times, exemptions from dress codes or physical appearance codes, and certain time off for observing holidays.
For instance, perhaps you were called into your supervisor’s office for an evaluation and he mentioned that you should remove your headwear while in the workplace. If you had previously filed a religious accommodation request and it was approved, your supervisor would be discriminating against you. Often, supervisors claim that these different physical appearances or clothing can turn customers away or create an atmosphere in the workplace that makes others uncomfortable.
Additionally, you may have been denied a break for prayer at a different time of day, or been told to come to work even though you filed a request to take a personal day to observe a religious holiday. If you have been on the receiving end of these experiences, your employer may be discriminating against you based on your religion, and you should contact an attorney to help your case.
What Protects You?
Fortunately, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against any employee based on the employee’s religion. This decree has been in place since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of which states that companies are prohibited from discriminating against employees or applicants for job employment because of their religious beliefs. It further states that companies must make reasonable accommodations for people whose religious beliefs, observances, and practices clash with work requirements. Despite this federal act, employers still practice religious discrimination, albeit in more subtle ways that make it very difficult for them to be sued or held responsible for their actions.
There are numerous agencies that exist to help victims of religious discrimination in the workplace deal with said prejudice. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) help individuals get fair treatment from their employers and other organizations.
Further, distinguished attorneys can help you bring your lawsuit to fruition and get you the compensation you deserve.
Filing a Discrimination Claim
Filing a workplace religious discrimination claim can be done through either the EEOC or your state’s Fair Employment Practice Acts (FEPA) agency. You may only file one claim at a time; thus, you cannot have both the federal government and your state government handling your claim. It will only be one or the other.
It is important to note the differences in filing under the two, notably in the statute of limitations: the EEOC allows up to 180 days before filing a lawsuit, while your state’s FEPA agency allows 300 days. You must fill out a questionnaire and await a response.
Because of how difficult it is to represent yourself against an employer or business, it is recommended to seek the assistance of an attorney who has ample experience in workplace and occupation discrimination.
The California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group: Here for You
Our team of attorneys at the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group believes in equality for all people. We strive to bring you the compensation you deserve if you have been unfairly discriminated against while in the workplace. Our plans involve netting you a fair, sizeable settlement as well as to take measures to ensure that your employment is not in jeopardy. We will also aggressively hunt for reimbursement of back pay or lost wages, reinstatement of your position, promotion to a new position, and any other damages you deserve, such as punitive damages, which are sought after to further punish the employer to dissuade subsequent discrimination.
We offer our clients free legal consultations to discuss their cases, the steps to filing a discrimination lawsuit, and how we will represent them in court. We will gladly give you information you want on similar cases and what we hope to win for you.
Additionally, we operate under a zero fee guarantee: if we do not win your case, you do not pay us any fees. Our goal is to help you receive fair compensation for unfair treatment, and if you lose, we lose, too.
Contact the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today to speak to an Anti-Muslim discrimination attorney who will help you file a religious discrimination lawsuit.
