Religious beliefs play different roles in the lives of New York residents and those elsewhere. In some cases, individuals may need specific accommodations at their places of work due to the beliefs that they hold. Unfortunately, openly expressing these beliefs and requesting accommodations could sometimes result in religious discrimination.
A former police officer in another state is claiming that he faced such discrimination, and he has filed a lawsuit against the city and others as a result. The man indicated that he was hired as an officer in 2013 and requested Sundays off for his day of worship. The religious accommodation was provided, and the man later became a pastor at his church in 2014. In 2015, the man left his position with the police department for personal reasons but was asked to return in 2017. He agreed to return to a part-time position and to have the same religious accommodation.
After the police chief resigned in 2018, the man was promoted to that position, but he still held his accommodation of not working on Sundays. A few months later, the mayor and the board of aldermen voted to demote the man from chief to a part-time patrol officer. The man then received a schedule that had him working every Sunday for the next month. As a result, the man resigned from his position because his religious accommodation went ignored. He has filed his lawsuit, claiming that he face religious discrimination and retaliation for his requested accommodation.
It can be difficult for individuals to take a stand when their rights have been violated. However, as this man’s case shows, it may be necessary to take legal action if religious discrimination occurs. New York residents facing this type of difficulty may wish to work with employment law attorneys to better understand their options.
