Georgia employers with 15 or more employees are prohibited from engaging in religious discrimination. Under federal law, they are not allowed to treat an employee unfavorably because of their religious beliefs or the religious affiliation of their spouse (or associate). Religious-based discrimination happens in nearly every profession and is widely believed to go unreported out of fear of retaliation.
At Shelton Law Practice, LLC, we represent employees who have been discriminated against on the basis of their religious beliefs or religious affiliation. If your employer treated you differently because of your religion, you might be able to file a claim for damages. Contact our office at (404) 865-3771 to schedule a case consultation with an experienced member of our legal team.
What Is Religious Discrimination?
Under federal law, an employer is prohibited from treating employees differently on the basis of one’s religion. This means an employer cannot make employment decisions based on a preference or dislike of one religion over another. An employer who engages in such conduct may be found liable for religion-based discrimination in a court of law.
Traditional organized religions often subjected to discrimination include but are not limited to:
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Christianity
- Buddhism
- Judaism
Religious discrimination, however, is not limited to unfair treatment against traditional religious affiliations. It can also occur against someone for their less traditional religious, ethical, or moral beliefs.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim Based on Religious Discrimination?
An employee in Georgia has 180 days to file a charge of discrimination against their employer. Federal employees, on the other hand, have only 45 days to file a claim through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Given the short amount of time you have to file a claim, it is imperative to consult with a religious discrimination lawyer as soon as possible. If you have been mistreated, harassed, or otherwise unfavorably treated at work due to your religious affiliation you might have a case for discrimination, but you need to act quickly to protect your rights.
What Are Examples of Religious Discrimination?
Religious discrimination may encompass a wide range of unethical and unlawful behavior. It may come in the form of harassment where the conduct is so severe and pervasive that it has created a hostile work environment. It could also be the result of discriminatory employment practices such as the refusal to hire someone solely because of their religion
Examples of religious discrimination include:
- A coworker making consistent offensive remarks and gestures about a person’s religion;
- A manager refusing to promote someone because they affiliate with a person of a particular religion;
- Hiring criteria based on religious affiliation;
- Separating or singling out individuals based on their religious beliefs;
- Refusing to allow a person a certain position due to their religion; and
- Failing to provide reasonable accommodations to a person for their religious beliefs or practices.
Employees are protected from religious discrimination under federal law. An employer’s failure to provide a workplace free from hate, harassment, or abuse is wrong and must be stopped.
Coming forward helps to put an end to these practices. The time to act is now. An employer is prohibited from retaliating against you for reporting the discrimination. Do not be afraid to tell your story.
Hiring a Religious Discrimination Lawyer in Atlanta
If you believe your employer has treated you differently because of your religion, you need to know whether there is any legal recourse available to you. Contact Shelton Law Practice, LLC today to inquire further.
Call (404) 865-3771 to request a case consultation directly with an experienced attorney. All consultations are confidential. We proudly represent clients in Atlanta and across the state.
