Religious Discrimination

Speak With a Bergen County Employment Lawyer About Your Rights

Discrimination based on your religious beliefs is unlawful in New Jersey. You have the right to practice your faith or hold no faith at all without being punished at work. At Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C., our attorneys help employees in Bergen County and across New Jersey assert those rights and pursue remedies when employers cross the line.

What Counts as Religious Discrimination?

Religious discrimination occurs when an employer treats you less favorably because of your sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or lack of beliefs. That includes major faiths such as Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Native American traditions, as well as smaller or nontraditional faiths and atheism. It is unlawful to fire, demote, refuse to hire, cut pay, reduce hours, or otherwise take an adverse employment action because of religion.

Religious Harassment and Hostile Work Environment

Harassment tied to religion also is illegal. Harassing conduct can include insults about your beliefs, mocking your religious practices or clothing, sending offensive emails or memes, excluding you from meetings, unfairly scheduling during observances, or assigning undesirable work because of your religion. A single severe incident by a decisionmaker, or a pattern of incidents that creates a hostile work environment both can be unlawful. If you are dealing with this in New Jersey, then speaking with a Bergen County employment lawyer can help you evaluate your options and strategy.

New Jersey Law Defines “Religion” Broadly

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) protect a wide range of sincerely held religious beliefs. Protection extends beyond membership in a formal church or denomination. Moral or ethical beliefs about right and wrong that occupy a place in your life similar to traditional religious convictions also can qualify. Protection also covers those who do not subscribe to any religion.

Reasonable Accommodations for Religious Beliefs

Employers generally must provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs and practices unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Depending on the job and workplace, accommodations can include modified schedules, shift swaps, prayer breaks, allowing particular dress or grooming, or excusing participation in a religiously sensitive task when a workable alternative exists. You do not need to use specific legal terms to ask for help, but you should clearly describe the conflict, propose practical solutions, and be willing to engage in a good-faith dialogue.

Protection Against Retaliation

You are legally protected when you raise concerns in good faith or request a religious accommodation. Retaliation for making a complaint, participating in an investigation, or requesting an accommodation is illegal. Retaliation can include termination, demotion, pay cuts, reduced hours, undesirable reassignment, or heightened scrutiny intended to punish you for asserting your rights.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Position

Taking a few simple steps can make a significant difference:

• Privately document incidents with dates, names, and what happened.
• Save relevant emails, messages, schedules, and policies.
• Follow reasonable reporting procedures and keep a copy of your complaint.
• Propose accommodations that would allow you to perform your essential duties.

These steps are not required for you to have a case. However, they often can help a judge or jury or agency see a pattern of discrimination.

Related Claims: Race And National Origin

Religious discrimination often overlaps with race, ancestry and national origin discrimination. For example, bias against someone who is Middle Eastern or Jewish can involve both religion and ancestry discrimination. You should tell your attorney about all the ways bias shows up in your workplace so your claims are fully framed.

How Our Firm Helps

Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C. evaluates your facts, analyzes your legal claims, explains your options, and builds a strategy that fits your goals. That may include negotiating an immediate accommodation, pursuing an internal resolution, filing an administrative charge, or attempting to negotiate a settlement. We can also file a lawsuit seeking compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, legal fees, and other remedies. From our Bergen County office, we represent employees throughout New Jersey.

Talk To a Bergen County Employment Lawyer

If you have experienced religious discrimination or harassment, or been a denied accommodation, Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C. is ready to help. You can call (201) 777-2250 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation. Our Bergen County employment lawyer will listen to your story and advocate to protect your rights.

Related Articles

• New Jersey Prohibits Religious and Political Intimidation at Work
• New Jersey Law Prohibits Harassment Based on Mistaken Belief that Employee is Jewish
• Supreme Court Makes it Easier to Receive Accommodations for Religious Beliefs
• New Jersey Prohibits Religious and Political Intimidation at Work
• Supreme Court Expands Religious Employers’ First Amendment Defense to Discrimination Claims
• Court Rejects Testimony of Undisclosed Witnesses in Religious Accommodation Lawsuit
• Religious Ministers Are Not Protected by Anti-Discrimination Laws
• Catholic School Did Not Violate Law Against Discrimination by Firing Unmarried Employee When She Got Pregnant

Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg is dedicated to enforcing employee rights in New Jersey and New York.