Los Angeles Religious Discrimination Lawyer

Religious Discrimination · Los Angeles Employment Law

Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman, P.C.

(877) 619-8966

Religious Discrimination Lawyer Serving Los Angeles Workers

Religious discrimination at work is prohibited under both California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The obligation goes beyond non-discrimination: employers must also reasonably accommodate an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. In Los Angeles, one of the most diverse cities in the country, religious accommodation requests across a wide range of faiths are common.

Common Accommodation Requests

Request	Typical Resolution
Schedule modification for Sabbath or weekly religious observance	Shift swap, schedule adjustment, or use of PTO
Time off for religious holidays	Unpaid leave, schedule swap, or PTO
Prayer breaks during work hours	Schedule adjustment, use of standard break time
Dress code exception (hijab, turban, yarmulke, beard)	Accommodation unless specific safety hazard
Exemption from vaccination requirement on religious grounds	Evaluated individually; undue hardship analysis required
Objection to union dues on religious grounds	Title VII requires alternatives such as charitable contribution in lieu of dues

An employer that denies an accommodation without conducting any individualized analysis is unlikely to prevail on an undue hardship defense.

EEOC Religious Discrimination Data

Fiscal Year	Religious Charges (National)	% of All Charges
FY 2021	2,111	3.4%
FY 2022	2,208	3.6%
FY 2023	2,220	3.3%

Source: EEOC Charge Statistics FY 2023

Religious discrimination claims frequently overlap with national origin discrimination claims when religious identity is tied to ethnicity. If you complained about discrimination and faced retaliation, see our page on retaliation claims. If the discrimination led to termination, you likely have a wrongful termination claim.