How to Prevent Religious Discrimination
Page Contents
- Step 1: Understand What Constitutes Religious Discrimination
- Step 2: Create Good Hiring Policies
- Step 3: Establish a Zero Tolerance Policy Against Religious Harassment and Discrimination
- Step 4: Train Employees
- Step 5: Train Managers and Supervisors
- Step 6: Provide Reasonable Accommodations for Religious Expression or Beliefs Where it Does Not Create Undue Hardship
- Permit Reasonable Religious Expression
- Review Potential Accommodations With Employees
- Develop Internal Process for Handling Accommodation Requests
- Review Accommodation Requests for Undue Hardship
- Consider Sincerity of Religious Belief in Certain Circumstances
- Step 7: Promptly Investigate Claims of Harassment and/or Discrimination
- Step 8: Avoid Claims of Retaliation
- Additional Resources
Author: Renee C. Mattei Myers, Eckert Seamans
Claims of workplace religious discrimination continue to increase in both federal and state court. To avoid costly and potentially embarrassing lawsuits, employers need to understand their rights to impose reasonable work rules and restrictions on employees, as well as the rights of employees and applicants who are entitled to reasonable accommodations for their sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.