Religion can be a hot button issue in the realm of employment law. For many—employees and employers alike—the line between discrimination and an ordinary working environment seems a bit blurred. Since you are asking questions about religious discrimination in the workplace, you clearly feel that something is wrong.
You probably like and want to keep your job or you would likely just leave and seek employment elsewhere. What you should always remember is that it is 100 percent against the law for an employer to allow workplace discrimination to exist. If you are fuzzy about what constitutes religious discrimination in Florida, here are some common examples or wrongful behavior in the workplace.
— Any offensive religious comments or gestures that make your workplace feel hostile
— Refusal to employ or promote you because of your religion
— Failure to give you a raise solely because of your religion
— Withholding job assignments due to your religious beliefs
— An unwillingness to make reasonable accommodations for you (e.g. not allowing the facial hair or headgear required in accordance with your faith)
— Being terminated solely because of your religion
— Retaliating against you if you have complained about religious discrimination
Further, if you have notified your employer about workplace harassment or discrimination, it is the employer’s responsibility to put a stop to the offensive behavior. Failure to do so is just as illegal as the discrimination.
If you want to protect your right to freedom of religion as well as your job, you should probably seek guidance from an employment law attorney who serves the citizens of Miami, Florida. Your lawyer can help you decide if you need to take legal action against your employer.
Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “Religious Discrimination,” accessed March 15, 2016
