It appears another recession may begin in 2023. During a recession, employers often attempt to save money by reducing their workforces.
This by itself isn’t illegal. However, a recession can give some employers justification to engage in recessionary discrimination.
Recessionary discrimination occurs when an employer uses the excuse of a recession to fire employees for illegal reasons.
For example, if an employer wishes to discriminate against employees of a particular religion, they may do so during a recession to avoid being subject to a claim or lawsuit. You can take legal action if you believe you’ve been fired because of religion and your employer has used the recession to cover up their true reason for firing you.
What Does It Mean When Someone Is A Victim of Recessionary Discrimination When They’re Laid Off?
Federal laws and state laws (which vary from one state to another) ensure workers can’t lose their jobs due to various protected factors. An employee’s religion is one such factor. It’s against the law for an employer to account for an employee’s religion when making layoff decisions.
Unfortunately, some employers don’t obey the law. If an employer does wish to let an employee of a certain religion go, they may actively seek a valid reason they can cite for firing said employee to avoid being the target of a claim or lawsuit.
A recession may give them the justification they’re looking for. An employee is the victim of recessionary discrimination when an employer falsely cites a recession as the reason for firing them when in reality they’ve fired said employee due to discriminatory reasons.
How To Tell If I’ve Been Fired As A Result of Religious & Recessionary Discrimination.
Potential signs your employer fired you because of your religion include:
- Your employer allowing you to be the target of religion-based jokes, ridicule, etc., in the workplace
- Your employer having a history of not hiring or promoting candidates/workers of a certain religion
- Being denied religious accommodation requests
- Being paid less than other employees with the same experience/qualifications as you
What Should I Do If I Was Fired As A Result of Religious & Recessionary Discrimination?
If you were fired because of religion, you may have a religious discrimination claim. Taking legal action could allow you to secure financial compensation and might even help you get your job back.
If you believe you’re soon to be fired due to your religion, or you already have been fired because of your religious beliefs, strengthen your case by taking these steps:
- Keep a record of any evidence and instances of discrimination you may have
- Consult your employee handbook to learn how to file an official complaint
- If you’ve been fired, file a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Review your case with a religious and recessionary discrimination attorney
Get Help With Your Discrimination Claim
Research indicates religious discrimination in the workplace continues to be a significant problem in the U.S. A recession could thus give your employer the justification they need to fire you without fear of repercussions.
Additional Resources
