{"id":357704,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/religion-in-the-workplace.html"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:15:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T22:15:00","slug":"religion-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/religion-in-the-workplace.html","title":{"rendered":"Religion in the Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Religion in the Workplace<\/h1>\n
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\n By Eric Harvey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Gregg Cavanagh<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Workers have civil rights that protect their religious freedom, though there are limits. Laws prohibit religious discrimination at work. Employers have a responsibility to treat workers of all religious backgrounds equally and to stop harassment.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The law recognizes that a person shouldn\u2019t have to choose between their livelihood and their sincere religious beliefs. There are limits to the ways you can express religion in the workplace. Yet, you have legal protections for many types of religious practices.<\/p>\r\n

Learn about your religious rights and limitations at work. An employment lawyer <\/a>can also help you review any concerns you have about your workplace or an employment decision.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Religious Discrimination?<\/h2>\r\n

Religious discrimination at work is unfair treatment based on an employee\u2019s religious beliefs and practices. A simple example of religious discrimination<\/a> is firing a Muslim employee for wearing a headscarf\/hijab.<\/p>\r\n

Most religious discrimination cases<\/a> against businesses arise under federal or state statutes. This is because the First Amendment only protects two freedoms about religion: freedom from government-imposed religion and the right to practice any religion. Neither of these rights directly relates to private employers. But, they remain subject to state and federal laws that ban religious discrimination in employment.<\/p>\r\n

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/a> prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on religion, including but not limited to:<\/p>\r\n