Religious freedom is valued in America, and discrimination based on religion is prohibited in the workplace. Reach out to one of the best religious discrimination attorneys in Los Angeles at Setyan Law
California employees are protected by state and federal laws against religious discrimination during the hiring process and at every stage of employment. State and federal laws also require employers to reasonably accommodate religious beliefs and practices in many situations. If you believe you’ve been discriminated against in due to your religion, the Los Angeles religious discrimination lawyers at Setyan Law will fight for your rights.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Victims of Religious Discrimination in Los Angeles, CA?
A common question we hear includes: Is there a Los Angeles religious discrimination attorney near me? The answer is, “Yes!” Setyan Law has a team of attorneys for religious discrimination who represent clients throughout the Los Angeles area.
We begin by listening to your story. We want to know exactly what happened. We will also immediately begin an investigation and gather as much evidence to support your case as possible. Our religious discrimination law firm will develop targeted strategies to meet your goals.
Religious Discrimination Laws in California
There are two primary laws that protect people against religious discrimination in the workplace – Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). These laws apply to applicants as well as part- and full-time employees.
Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees. It prohibits employment discrimination based on religion and many other characteristics. An employee who has been discriminated against based on religion must first file a complaint with the federal government agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If that complaint is not successful, you may be able to file a religious discrimination lawsuit in court.
FEHA prohibits discrimination based on many characteristics, including religion, by employers with five or more employees. Before filing a religious discrimination lawsuit based on FEHA, you must file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). FEHA allows you to recover unlimited damages to compensate you for your losses; whereas Title VII has limits on compensatory and punitive damages that may be recovered.
Claims based on the provisions in Title VII and FEHA can be complex. They involve in-depth legal process and require specific legal documents with evidence to support all claims. It’s best to work with a Los Angeles religious discrimination lawyer to file a complaint or continue on to a lawsuit in court, if necessary.
Religious Discrimination Examples
Religious discrimination may be intentional discrimination, also called “disparate treatment,” or disparate impact discrimination
Intentional Religious Discrimination
Intentional discrimination includes actions like terminating or failing to hire an individual because of their religion, religious beliefs, or religious practices. Additionally, the prohibition against discrimination includes actions that discriminate against an employee’s affiliation with a religion, the perception that an employee is a member of a religious group, or an employee’s association with a member of a religious group.
Disparate Impact Religious Discrimination?
Disparate impact discrimination includes things like implementing a neutral policy or practice that actually has a negative impact on a specific religious group. For example, a workplace may not prohibit all employees from wearing anything on their heads while working. That would have a negative impact on those workers whose religions require them to wear a hijab, yarmulke, or turban.
Does My Employer Have to Accommodate My Religion?
In most cases, yes. Under the federal law Title VII and California law FEHA, employers must reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs or practices of an employee or applicant unless doing so creates an undue hardship. Some examples of “reasonable accommodations” include:
- Creating an exception to the dress code
- Changing an employee’s work schedule so they can worship
- Excusing an atheist from religious invocations, such as prayer, at company events
- Providing breaks to allow Muslim employees to pray at prescribed times daily
How a Religious Discrimination Lawyer in Los Angeles Can Help You
Religious discrimination cases can be particularly complex because employers may make claims that they weren’t aware you needed reasonable accommodations or that the accommodations result in undue hardship. To combat this, you need an aggressive religious discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles who will protect your rights according to state and federal laws. A Los Angeles employment lawyer can answer your questions.
The legal team at Setyan Law has extensive experience helping clients just like you. Call us at (213) 618-3655 for a free initial consultation. When you contact us, you will speak directly with a religious discrimination lawyer who knows the law and will help you understand your options.
How an Employment Attorney in Los Angeles Can Help You
Employment disputes are about more than winning. They often involve your livelihood and can impact your entire life. Setyan Law has a team of legal professionals and discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles, CA, Pasadena, CA, and Glendale, CA.
We will review your case, gather evidence to support your claims, and fight for you to get the justice you deserve.
Please feel free to call us for a free consultation about your rights.