Religious Discrimination

Employees in New York are entitled to reasonable accommodations that allow them to practice their religious beliefs. When an employee requests a religious accommodation, the employer must grant an accommodation (though not necessarily the specific accommodation requested) unless doing so would cause “undue hardship.” So, what are your rights if you were denied a religious accommodation at work? As with all employment-related matters, the answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances at hand.

State and federal laws prohibit most employers in New York from discriminating against their employees based on their employees’ religious beliefs. Along with avoiding discriminatory acts (i.e., firing or refusing to promote an employee based on the employee’s religion), employers must also provide “reasonable accommodations” to employees who request them. As the U.S.