RELIGIOUS
DISCRIMINATION
Unlawful religious discrimination refers to treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. The law protects not only people who belong to traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, but also others who have sincerely held religious, ethical, or moral beliefs.
Minnesota Mediator for Religious Discrimination Claims
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As a mediator and investigator who has also long practiced as civil rights attorney, I have significant experience with religious discrimination claims. If you need help resolving your case, please consider contacting me today.
What is unlawful religious discrimination?
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Religious discrimination involves treating a person or group unfavorably because of their religious beliefs. This includes treating someone differently because they belong to or are associated with a particular religion, because of their personal religious beliefs, or because they are not affiliated with any religion at all.
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Here's a closer look at religious discrimination in various areas:
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Employment: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment. The law also requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee's sincerely held religious beliefs or practices, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employer's business operations. This can include flexible scheduling, job reassignments, or modifications to workplace policies or practices.
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Education: While religious institutions have certain exemptions, public and many private educational institutions are generally prohibited from discriminating on the basis of religion under various federal and state laws.
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Housing: The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on religion. This includes refusal to rent or sell housing, making housing unavailable, setting different terms or conditions, falsely denying that housing is available, or advertising that housing is available only to persons of a certain religion.
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Public Services and Accommodations: While the law is more complex in this area due to First Amendment protections, generally, businesses and organizations that provide services to the public are not permitted to discriminate based on religion.
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How can one spot religious discrimination?
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Religious discrimination can take many forms, including:
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Direct Discrimination: Treating someone less favorably than another because of their religion.
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Indirect Discrimination: Setting a rule or policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages individuals of a particular religion.
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Harassment: Subjecting a person to insults, bullying, or humiliation because of their religion.
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