Los Angeles Religious Discrimination Lawyer

Have You Experienced Discrimination Based On Your Religion in Los Angeles, CA?

When an employer discriminates against an individual based on his or her religious beliefs, what legal options are available? Though most Americans know it is illegal to discriminate against someone in a workplace for their religion, it can be difficult for an employee to know what steps to take when it happens. Seeking the assistance of a skilled Los Angeles religious discrimination lawyer is one of the most effective routes to discovering what your next actions should be.

At the Law Offices of Miguel S. Ramirez in Los Angeles, we can help you understand your legal options if you have experienced workplace harassment or discrimination based on your religion. Our knowledgeable team stands ready to ensure that those in our community feel confident in their case if they need to confront their employers for religion-based discrimination or harassment.

To schedule a free consultation, please call 213-975-0003 today. Se habla español.

What Is Considered Religious Discrimination In The Workplace?

Regardless of your religion or the religion of your loved ones, you have the right to exist in the workforce without it affecting your position. Unfortunately, some Los Angeles employers will treat their employees negatively based on their religion.

If you have experienced any of the following at work, you may have a religious discrimination claim against your employer:

• Refusing to hire individuals of a certain religion
• Denying a promotion based on one’s religion
• Failure to accommodate an employee’s religious practices (such as time off for religious holidays or prayer time)
• Discrimination based on religious dress code
• A hostile work environment of harassment or derogatory language

Religious discrimination can happen to individuals of all faiths: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and others. It is important to discuss the specific circumstances of your case with an employment law attorney to determine the next steps. You may have a claim against your place of work, and you may be entitled to compensation. In a free consultation, we can discuss your full scope of legal options.

Recourse for Religious Discrimination in California

California residents have two options when filing a religious discrimination complaint against their employer – federal or state. The federal organization that handles discrimination complaints is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the state organization is the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). In most instances, California law offers employees more protection than federal law, so most choose to file with the CRD instead of the EEOC.

Once you have made the decision to file a claim against your employer, you are usually required to file a complaint with the CRD and complete its complaint process to obtain a right-to-sue notice. The CRD will conduct its own investigation, but it is possible to file with the CRD and obtain an immediate right-to-sue notice without waiting for their investigation. If the CRD cannot facilitate a resolution, you are authorized to file a claim in the courts.

A workplace religious discrimination complaint should be filed with the CRD within three years of the most recent incident of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. There are, however, some exceptions to this statute of limitations. For example, if an employee did not discover the illegal discrimination until after three years have passed, they are still authorized to begin the filing process.

Potential Damages From a Religious Discrimination Claim

There are three main categories of damages that one can obtain from a discrimination claim:

• Monetary DamagesThis type of damages is meant to compensate the employee for any funds they have lost due to the discrimination. The employee may have experienced losses in many forms. For example, being terminated or being denied a promotion due to your religion could have resulted in lost wages or benefits. A monetary award may also be sought for pain and suffering or emotional distress, along with compensation for court costs and attorney fees.
• Equitable Remedies
  Awarded damages without a monetary value fall into this category of recompense. Equitable remedies include actions like rehiring an employee who was wrongfully terminated or offering a position/promotion to an employee who was denied one due to their religion.This type of resolution may not be desired if the employee does not wish to return to the discriminatory workplace, but another equitable remedy example is forcing the employer to change any discriminatory policies currently in place.
• Punitive Damages
  In some instances of discrimination, especially more egregious instances, the employers may receive punitive damages. This type of penalty is meant to punish the employer and also dissuade them, and other employers, from engaging in similar actions in the future.

LA Religious Discrimination FAQs

Q: Can I Be Terminated From My Job If I File a Religious Discrimination Complaint in Los Angeles?

A: Some employers may take offense if an employee files a discrimination complaint or assists another employee with their complaint. In response, they may penalize these employees with negative actions, like harassment or even termination from their positions. This is considered retaliation and is against the law. If an employer engages in retaliatory practices, the employee can file another complaint with the CRD or add it to the current claim.

Q: What Are Some Examples of Religious Discrimination in the Los Angeles Workplace?

A: Unfortunately, religious discrimination can take many forms in the workplace. Identifying these illegal practices is the first step in ensuring that the practices end and that you are justly compensated. Some examples of religious discrimination include:

• Segregating members of a single religion into a space away from the rest of the workforce
• Forcing employees to participate in a religious activity as a condition of employment
• Making disparaging jokes about an employee’s religion
• Excluding members of a religion from company events

Q: Does My Los Angeles Employer Have a Responsibility to Accommodate My Religious Practices or Beliefs?

A: In California, employers have a duty to accommodate the religious practices or beliefs of their employees. Examples include approving an employee’s request for time off to observe religious holidays or allowing an employee to dress or groom in accordance with their religion. An employer, however, is not obligated to provide an accommodation if it will cause them undue hardship.

Q: What Laws Prohibit Racial Discrimination in a Los Angeles Workplace?

A: Racial discrimination is against the law at both the state and federal levels. In California, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prevents employers from discriminating based on a number of factors, including religion. It also requires that employers reasonably accommodate employees’ religious beliefs. On a federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prevents employers from factoring religion into employment issues like hiring, firing, and promotions.

Q: Why Should I Hire an Attorney If I Believe That I Have Suffered Religious Discrimination in My Workplace?

A: There are a number of benefits to working with a knowledgeable workplace discrimination attorney. They can evaluate your situation and help you determine if you have experienced religious discrimination. They can also support you as you work through the process of filing a complaint with the CRD and, ultimately, filing a claim if it progresses to that. Additionally, an attorney can help you collect relevant evidence and offer advice if your employer attempts retaliation.

Contact Our Los Angeles Religious Discrimination Attorneys Today

The Law Offices of Miguel S. Ramirez strongly believes that our community is owed the opportunity to practice their religion without feeling targeted in the workplace. If discrimination arises, we want to help our clients obtain all their owed compensation. We also believe that fear of your employer should never prevent you from filing a complaint, so we work diligently to ensure that we can protect our clients to the fullest extent of the law.

To speak to a Los Angeles Religious Discrimination Lawyer about potential religious discrimination at your workplace, please call 213-975-0003 or contact us online. We serve clients in Los Angeles County and surrounding counties of Southern California.