Religious Discrimination

It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee in the workplace on the basis of religion.  Federal and New York State and City laws protect employees against religious discrimination and require employers to accommodate religious practices except when this would create an unreasonable burden. 

Some examples of religious discrimination include: disparate treatment; derogatory comments; forbidding hairstyles or clothing; terminating employees for taking time off to observe religious holidays; refusing to allow certain religious practices in the workplace; and denying opportunities such as employment, promotions, compensation increases, bonuses due to religious beliefs and/or practices.

It is illegal for an employer to terminate or mistreat an employee for making religious discrimination complaints. Laws are designed to permit employees to complain about religious discrimination without fear of retaliation.  An employer that retaliates against an employee for making a religious discrimination complaint faces the same damages/penalties that it would face for discrimination.