Both federal and state laws in the U.S. forbid religious discrimination in the workplace. Unfortunately, it still occurs across a range of industries.
Perhaps you’re Jewish and have experienced antisemitism in the workplace. You have the right to take legal action if so.
Keep reading for more information. The following overview explains what antisemitism in the workplace may look like and what you can do about it if you’ve experienced this treatment.
What Are Examples of Antisemitism At Work?
Antisemitism in the workplace can take many forms. The following are merely a few common examples:
- Failure to make reasonable accommodations for your religious beliefs (such as not allowing you to observe religious holidays)
- Segregating you from your coworkers
- Allowing harassment to occur
- Not offering you or other Jewish employees raises, promotions, or other advancement opportunities you may have earned
- Firing you because of your religion
- Not hiring you due to your religious beliefs
It’s not always clear whether certain behaviors or attitudes qualify as examples of religious discrimination at work. Consult with a workplace discrimination attorney if you’re not sure whether your experiences qualify as illegal discrimination.
What To Do If You Experience Antisemitism at Work
If you believe you have experienced antisemitism or any similar form of workplace discrimination, take the following steps:
- Report your experiences: Consult your employee handbook to find out if your company has an official procedure for reporting religious discrimination in the workplace. Follow the procedure accordingly. If there is no official procedure, formally report your concerns to HR and/or your manager with a letter or email.
- Gather evidence: Evidence of antisemitism in the workplace may include emails, chat logs, text messages, voicemail messages, and other forms of correspondence. Additionally, witnesses may provide statements supporting your accusations. It’s also wise to keep a journal in which you list the dates of your experiences of religious discrimination at work, along with a description of what happened and who was involved.
- File a claim: When you first experience religious discrimination in the workplace, you may file a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Or, depending on where you work, there may be a relevant state agency with whom you can file a claim.
When you file a claim or charge with the EEOC, they will investigate the matter. The EEOC or the state agency may provide you with a Right to Sue letter upon completing their investigation if they find workplace discrimination has occurred.
Get Help With Your Antisemitism Claim
Don’t delay when filing a charge with the EEOC or a state agency. You typically only have 180 days from the time you experienced an instance of discrimination to file such a charge.
Be aware that gathering the evidence you need to strengthen your claim may be easier with the assistance of an attorney. A legal professional can also help you by completing all paperwork, handling all correspondence, and generally guiding you through the process. For more information, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
