New Developments Concerning Religious Discrimination in the

Workplace

Discrimination being very popular from year to year. Many people in many
generation fight for the discrimination that they faced. Between 1960s - 1970s black
woman fought for their rights. From 1980s and 1990s, gays and lesbians fought for
their justice. There are many ways to discriminate against people, one of which most
often encountered is religious discrimination in the workplace. Firing an employee or
loss of promotion due to the employee’s religious beliefs, harassment of employees
because they wear an accessories or religious clothing. Religious people are
beginning to speak up in growing numbers in the workplace. Workers want for the
freedom to express their religion. the most common elements of religious
discrimination are discounting religious beliefs of others, religious jokes, compulsory
jokes, exclusionary prayer, non-association due to religion, failure to provide
alternative services, lack of concern. The Workplace Religious Freedom Act would
amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from
discriminating against employees and applications because of their religion. It
require s that company make reasonable efforts to accommodate employees
religious practice and beliefs unless this causes undue hardship. For example,
workers are allowed to take time off for religious holidays. Title VII not allowed the
employment discrimination about rece, sex, religion and nation origin. This
legislation under consideration in both houses of Congress, called the “workplace
Religious Freedoms Act” would substantially increase employers’ responsibilities.

There are an issue about religious discrimination in New York about Sears refused to
hire an Orthodox Jew as a repair technician in New York because of his religious
reasons against working on Saturdays, he contacted the state’s attorney general’s
office. Then Sears had to offer jobs to the complainants, pay their legal fees, pay the
attorney general’s office and pay the American Law Institute to create educational
materials and programme on religious accommodation and supply in scholarship for
Sabbath observers.

Religious discrimination occurs when an employment rule or policy requires a person

to violate the fundamental precept or lose the opportunity of employment. Religion
is not just about the orthodox denominations. The Equal Opportunity Commission,
or we can call it EEOC said that do not limit the definition of religious practices or
meaning. A belief in religious is not because a religious admit that belief, but because
of their consciousness about belief and their strength of traditional religious view.
There are some trends in Religious Accommodation :

− Religious diversity is rising, there are 5 religions that have been approved.

− Religious devotion is on increase, people believe in God and trust the religion.

− Employee more aware to their rights, they are careful on acting or talking about
religion

− They understand that religion is sensitive subject, so they are aware of it

Conclusion:

Everyone has a right to freely practice their own religion, they can choose the
religion they trust on. But they are not allowed to judge and the rights of the others.
The Government should support the rights about respect and appreciate what
people believe by forming a law about the freedom of religions. This law will confess
people about judging the others, avoid the discrimination and educate people about
the moral of the needs and belief other people.