Religion in the Workplace
LegalMatch Law Library Managing Editor, Ken LaMance, Attorney at Law 
What Religious Practices do Employers Have to Honor?
To respect the religious practices of an employee within the bounds of the law, an employer must reasonably accommodate the employee's practices. Some common examples of religious practices in the workplace that an employer must accommodate are:
- Religious holidays: the employer must allow a flexible work schedule where an employee has the ability to take off from work for significant religious holidays and allow the employee to make up for missed time.
- Prayer in the workplace: as long as the procedure is reasonable, an employer must allow an employee to pray in the workplace. However, any type of prayer or other religious practice that would unreasonably interfere with work, such as clearing out a whole room of employees so that one employee can pray alone, does not have to tolerated by the employer.
- Dress code: an employer cannot prohibit an employee from wearing various articles of clothing such as a religious dress or head coverings. Nor can an employer force an employee to trim his hair or a beard if they are part of the employee's religious observance.
What If My Employer Does Not Allow Me to Practice My Religion at Work?
If your employer forbids you from observing your religion at work, you may be the victim of religious discrimination. An experienced employment lawyer can help you determine whether your employer is obligated to allow your religious practice at work. An employment lawyer can also help you seek damages if you chose to sue for religious discrimination.
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Last Modified: 12-16-2011 04:19 PM PST
