What is discrimination based on religion?

Discrimination because of religion usually occurs when a worker is treated negatively or unfairly at work because of his or her religion, or religious beliefs and practices. It may also include an employer's refusal to accommodate a worker's request for accommodation for his or her religious beliefs and practices. For example: subjecting an employee to harassing and degrading comments about one's religion; workplace policies that interfere with religious beliefs and practices when there is no necessary business reason for the policy; or, refusing to hire or promote individuals because of their religion. Federal and state laws require employers to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of an employee or prospective employee, unless doing so would create an "undue hardship" on the employer. Examples of accommodations are: a change in work hours, job reassignment, or voluntary subsitutions or swaps in days or shifts worked. Religious discrimination frequently occurs in ...  more