Workplace discrimination on the basis of religion is a prohibited practice under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and under the Illinois Human Rights Act. A worker cannot be treated differently, unfairly or harassed by supervisors, coworkers, prospective employers, and third parties in the workplace solely based on the worker’s religious affiliations. These protections apply not only to workers who believe in and practice well-known and well-organized religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, etc., but these protections also apply to workers who have sincerely held beliefs in less popular or unconventional religions as well, such as Scientology, Wicca, or Mormonism.
Religious discrimination can be based on a number of attributes of a worker. For instance, your religious activities, daily prayer, religious rituals that must be observed during the work day, clothing or religious garb or head coverings, associations with others of a particular religious group, or attendance at a particular religious establishment or place of worship, might indicate to other workers your religious beliefs. This information about you and your religious beliefs and practices, however, cannot be used to discriminate against you in the workplace.
Both state and federal law protect most workers in Illinois from workplace discrimination and harassment on the basis of the worker’s religious beliefs. Specifically, the Illinois Human Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provide these protections.
These laws protects against workplace discrimination on the basis of religion with regard to:
Employers who fall under the provisions of these laws are also prohibited from retaliating against a worker who files a harassment or discrimination claim.
The Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline can help you deal with your workplace discrimination or harassment claims based on your religion. Contact our Chicago, Illinois sexual harassment lawyers today for a free consultation.