The United States is supposed to be a melting pot for people of all different races, ethnicities, religions and cultures. It is a place where everyone needs to get an equal opportunity. Unfortunately, many people feel they have been denied that opportunity in the workforce because they have faced discrimination. In many cases, the discrimination revolves around religion.
You are free to practice any religion you desire in the United States, and it is illegal for your boss to discriminate against you on those grounds. No matter what you believe, your rights may have been violated if those fundamental beliefs impacted your career. Perhaps your boss decided to:
- Refuse to hire you in the first place
- Refuse to give you a promotion
- Terminate your position
- Refuse to give you a raise
- Cut your pay
- Give you unfavorable jobs that no one else wants
- Make jokes or insults at your expense
- Harass you on a daily basis, creating a toxic work environment
- Lay you off when no one else lost their job
- Deny you the benefits given to other employees
- Refuse to give you proper job training
These are just a few examples, but they do paint a fairly clear picture. If you feel like you do not get the same treatment as other employees because of your religion, that goes against your rights as an American citizen.
When religious discrimination in the workplace happens, it is very important to understand all of the legal options you have. Remember, companies may try to cover this behavior up and provide excuses as to why their actions were not discrimination, so these cases can get very complex.