Religious Discrimination
The freedom to believe and practice one's own religion was one of the founding principles of our nation. The First Amendment protects everyone's right to freedom from government coercion and repression of religious beliefs. But it wasn't until 1964, when Title VII of the Civil Rights Act passed, that employees in the private sector were protected from religious discrimination in the workplace.
Title VII prohibits employers from making decisions based on an employee's or applicant's religion. Employers are also required to provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to practice their religion, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. The articles below explain what religious discrimination is; which beliefs count as "religious," and are therefore protected under Title VII; and what types of accommodations an employee might reasonably request at work.
Religious Discrimination Basics
Religious Discrimination Basics
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Your Rights Against Religious Discrimination
Employers may not discriminate based on religion and must reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs.
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Reasonable Accommodation for Religious Beliefs
An employer must accommodate employee religious beliefs, unless it would pose an undue hardship.
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Workplace Harassment Based on Religion
Find out how to recognize religious harassment -- and what to do about it.
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Religious Discrimination at Work
Learn how to recognize -- and fight -- workplace discrimination based on religion.
What's a Religion?
What's a Religion?
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Can my employer question my religious beliefs?
Employers may not discriminate based on an employee's sincerely held religious beliefs.
Questions on Religious Accommodation
Questions on Religious Accommodation
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How Do I Request a Religious Accommodation at Work?
Employers must make reasonable accommodation for an employee's religious practices.
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Does my coworker have a right to proselytize at work?
Employers must accommodate their employee's religious beliefs, but not at the expense of other employees.
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Does our company have to provide us a place to pray?
A Muslim employee asks about accommodations for daily prayers.
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Can my employer require me to wear pants rather than a skirt?
A reader asks who wins when an employee's religious garb doesn't comply with an employer's uniform requirement.
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