You have the right to practice your religion, and your employer must make reasonable accommodations for beliefs. If you are fired for your religious beliefs, then you may be able to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. However, your employer has leeway as to how much flexibility he or she is required to give you in order to give you accommodation. Here is more information about your religious rights at work and ways that your employer is allowed to control how you express those beliefs at work.
You Have the Right to Express Your Beliefs
You have the right to have any type of religious beliefs, and you are allowed to reasonably express your religious beliefs to other people, including other coworkers and clients. This means that you are allowed to dress or wear your hair according to religious standards, wear religious jewelry, or even express your faith to other people.
However, your right to expression must not infringe on other people's rights or cause undue burden to the business. For example, your desire to proselytize and try to convert your coworkers or customers may be seen as harassment. On the other hand, if your expression is not specifically directed at your coworkers or customers, such as if you are wearing a crucifix or a hijab or putting up a religiously inspired poster in your personal workspace, then that would not likely be considered harassment.
You Have a Right to Reasonable Accommodations
If you require accommodations to take time off work to pray at a certain time, or if you require a specific day off for worship activities, then your employer must make reasonable changes, such as letting you arrange a voluntary schedule switch with another employee. However, the employer does not have to make accommodations if they cause a severe hardship to the business or employees.
For example, an employer may require that you use your breaks for prayer time, or make up the time later. Also, if your employer finds that he or she cannot do without you on a certain day without extra costs or burdens to other employees, then he or she is not required to let you have those days off. Even if other employees have that day off for nonreligious reasons, your employer is not required to force them to come to work.
You have the right to practice and express your religion, and your employer cannot terminate or refuse to hire you simply because you practice or express a certain religion. If you feel that you were terminated for your religious beliefs and you were not allowed reasonable accommodations, then you may need to talk to a wrongful termination attorney to see if you have a case.
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