For every employee of faith, navigating religious rights at work can be difficult. This could be particularly true if the religious observance or holiday is not as commercialized as Christmas. While employers in California should at least attempt to offer religious accommodation, workers can still be hesitant in asking for time off for religious reasons.
Employees in the State of California should not be fearful for wanting to freely exercise religious rights, as there are state and federal laws that protect employees from religious discrimination. If you are an employee in the State of California, there are laws that will protect your ability to exercise your religious freedoms.
Accommodation for Religious Practices
As previously mentioned, there are several laws that will protect an employee from being discriminated against in the workplace for observing religious practices. The following are some of the most notable antidiscrimination laws.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) – FEHA states that a religious belief includes holidays and under the law, employers should reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs and observances of employees. This includes excusing employees from practicing duties that are in conflict with their beliefs.
California Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2012 (WRFA) – Under WRFA, the definition of religion was extended to include all aspects of the belief, observance, creed, or practice by adding grooming and dress practices. This includes a person’s clothing, jewelry, body coverings, and other items that could relate to a person’s religious observance. Any person with head, body, or facial hair should also be protected if these are kept for religious purposes.
Reasonable Accommodation for Religion
Employees in the State of California have a right to observe religious holidays and employers must make reasonable accommodations to help the worker maintain their religious practices. Regrettably, some of the most common forms of religious discrimination in the workplace relate to the employer’s inability to accommodate the employee. Employees in California, however, can be protected only if their request does not cause the employer undue hardship. Undue hardship can sometimes be difficult to determine, as standards differ from federal and state regulations. Employers who are challenging religious discrimination claims in the workforce will need to demonstrate that the accommodation has caused or will cause a significant expense and/or difficulty.
For Religious Discrimination in the Workplace, Seek the Legal Support of a Qualified Attorney
Employees in California are protected by both state and federal laws and give them the opportunity and freedom to express their religious beliefs. Employees who wish to take a few days off of work to practice their religious freedoms can do so by asking their employer, who should provide such accommodations.
If you have suffered repercussions after observing a religious holiday or have undergone other types of religious discriminations in the workplace, it is important to seek the legal support of a qualified attorney who will represent you and fight for your rights in a court of law.
The attorneys at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation are dedicated to representing employees who have suffered religious discrimination in the workplace. The firm has many years of dedicated experience in handling discrimination cases in California.
