California’s Fair Housing and Employment Act (FEHA) makes it illegal to refuse to hire, refuse to select a person for a training program leading to employment, or to fire/terminate a person from employment or from a training program leading to employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or demote them, because of a person’s religion. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act also protects religious freedom. All Religions are protected. Moreover, it can apply to people who have “sincerely held beliefs” although not religious in the traditional sense. It can also be the right not to be religious or believe in a higher power, like atheists and agnostics. There are exceptions to the rule. For example, churches and other religious organizations can impose certain religious restrictions on employees in certain positions.

Similar to other protected categories, an employer must provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who seeks a religious accommodation. For example, certain employees request short breaks or places to pray, while others may request to wear or not wear certain items in accordance with their religious beliefs. Some may request not to work certain days/times in accordance with their religion (e.g., a religious holiday or shabbat). Employers must comply with reasonable requests unless it would cause an undue burden.

There are a variety of remedies for victims of religious discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, which include but are not limited to:

• Back pay (lost wages)
• Front Pay (money for lost future earnings)
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Injunctive relief
• Emotional distress damages
• Punitive damages
• Attorneys’ fees and costs

If you think that you have been discriminated against, harassed, or were terminated because of your religion, or retaliated against for complaints of illegal religious discrimination, contact the Wagner Legal Group for a free consultation or call (310) 857-5293.