Eliminating religious discrimination in the workplace
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Thomas Loikith
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
25-4-2025 11:29 AM
Description
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination in any aspect of employment. Forms of illegal religious discrimination include harassment, segregation, dress policies, and employment policies and practices. Although the law has been in effect for over 60 years, religious discrimination in the workplace continues and has been on the rise. What can be done to eliminate religious discrimination in the workplace? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. I used qualitative research methodology, specifically, textual analysis. From September 2024 through April 2025, I analyzed relevant sources from the disciplines of law and human rights, including the Constitution, Title VII and other statutes, court opinions, and scholarly and non-scholarly articles, identifying conflicting insights from each. I then sought common ground between the insights, and through integration, I achieved a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That enables me to suggest resolutions of the problem. I conclude that federal and state agencies charged with monitoring religious discrimination in the workplace and courts should strictly enforce all relevant laws and regulations. Moreover, much can be done in the workplace itself to avoid religious discrimination. Employers should adopt and enforce zero-tolerance policies. There should be training for managers and supervisors as to how to properly handle reports of religious discrimination. There should also be training for employees about how to recognize and avoid religious discrimination. There should be clear and uncomplicated reporting procedures for incidents of discrimination.
Eliminating religious discrimination in the workplace
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits religious discrimination in any aspect of employment. Forms of illegal religious discrimination include harassment, segregation, dress policies, and employment policies and practices. Although the law has been in effect for over 60 years, religious discrimination in the workplace continues and has been on the rise. What can be done to eliminate religious discrimination in the workplace? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. I used qualitative research methodology, specifically, textual analysis. From September 2024 through April 2025, I analyzed relevant sources from the disciplines of law and human rights, including the Constitution, Title VII and other statutes, court opinions, and scholarly and non-scholarly articles, identifying conflicting insights from each. I then sought common ground between the insights, and through integration, I achieved a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That enables me to suggest resolutions of the problem. I conclude that federal and state agencies charged with monitoring religious discrimination in the workplace and courts should strictly enforce all relevant laws and regulations. Moreover, much can be done in the workplace itself to avoid religious discrimination. Employers should adopt and enforce zero-tolerance policies. There should be training for managers and supervisors as to how to properly handle reports of religious discrimination. There should also be training for employees about how to recognize and avoid religious discrimination. There should be clear and uncomplicated reporting procedures for incidents of discrimination.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.