Our attorneys help employees throughout Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia who are subject to workplace discrimination or harassment based on their religion or who are seeking to obtain accommodation for their religious practices.
When is There a Claim for Religious Discrimination?
Just like with other forms of discrimination, Federal and State laws prohibit a difference in treatment among employees due to one’s religion or religious practices.
Reasonable Accommodation Component
Unlike other traditional forms of discrimination e.g. race, sex, color, in the case of religion there is a second component that an employer has to be concerned with; accommodation of religious practices. An employer is required to provide a reasonable accommodation for one’s religious practices. For example, absent extenuating circumstances, an employer cannot require a person to violate his or her religious beliefs such as working on the Sabbath, eating a forbidden food, or consuming alcohol if doing so is against the employee’s religious principles. Instead, the employer must make an accommodation enabling the employee to do his job without violating his religion. But note, the employer must only go as far as what is reasonable. If the employer can show that it would be an undue hardship to accommodate the employee, then an accommodation may not be required.
If you need the help of an experienced lawyer specializing in religious discrimination cases in Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia, please contact the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick, LLC in Rockville, Maryland.