Orange County Employment Lawyers Blog
Employment discrimination can take many forms, ranging from failure to hire, termination and other adverse employment actions, as well as harassment and hostile work environment. Minorities, women, and disabled persons are among protected classes as they are often the targets of discriminatory acts. As the West continues to wage a war against terrorism and extremism, many innocent Muslims have become the target of harassment and discrimination too.
In a recent case, a Northern California prison guard has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was harassed because of his race and religion. The case was filed on December 31st in federal court against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDRC). According to the complaint, the plaintiff is from Sudan and is a practicing Muslim. Representing him are employment lawyers who are collaborating alongside the Council on American-Islam Relations.
According to the complaint, co-workers routinely referred to the plaintiff as a “terrorist” and made derogatory comments about Islam and his Sudanese accent. The Muslim guard has alleged the harassment was in retaliation for an earlier complaint he filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with similar complaints against his co-workers. That complaint was filed confidentially in 2010. The 56-year-old guard has been a correctional officer in Sacramento for over 12 years.
Victims of discrimination may endure suffering for weeks, months, even years before they decide to take action. Whether you are an undocumented worker, intern, volunteer, part-time worker, salaried employee or independent contractor, you have the right to be free of discrimination in the workplace. California laws extend beyond federal laws to protect the rights of workers. If you or someone you love has suffered from religious discrimination, our Orange County religious discrimination employment attorneys want to protect you rights. We will explore your legal options and help you take action against individuals and entities responsible for discrimination.
Muslims have become the target of workplace discrimination in the U.S., as well as across the globe. According to a report conducted by MSNBC, Muslim workers are increasingly becoming the target of discrimination in the workplace. Reports of discrimination spiked immediately after 9/11, then tamed down. Now, recent reports show that cases of discrimination are on the rise. Sadly, there is hatred, a lack of tolerance, and abuse against those who are practicing Muslims. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the claims of bias against Muslims has increased every year for the past 5 years.
In 2010, the EEOC filed a claim against a security company for terminating a security officer who wore a religious head scarf. The company threatened to terminate other employees who wore religious garments while on duty. The Abercrombie & Fitch case is headed to the Supreme Court after the clothing company refused to hire a job applicant because she wore hijab, a Muslim religious covering. JBS Swift and Co. was also sued by the EEOC for the mistreatment of Somali Muslims. According to the complaint, works at meatpacking plants in Colorado and Nebraska faced ongoing harassment because of their race and religion.
Employment lawsuits can be filed with assistance from the Nassiri Law Group, practicing in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County. Call 949.375.4734.
More Blog Entries:
Age Discrimination in Tech Job Postings, July 6, 2014, Orange County Employment Lawyer Blog
California’s Top Employment Law Mistakes, Oct. 26, 2013, Orange County Employment Lawyer Blog