Despite legal protections, religious discrimination remains a persistent issue in many professional environments. At Elite Employment Law, we understand that religious freedom is a fundamental right that extends to the workplace.
Our experienced Orange County employment law attorney is dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace, regardless of your religious beliefs or practices.
Meet Attorney Samuel P. Nielson
Founder & Lead Attorney
Samuel P. Nielson is the Founder and Lead Attorney of Elite Employment Law APC, where he is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees across Southern California. With over a decade of experience, Sam has built a reputation for fierce advocacy and trusted legal counsel in employment law. He represents a wide range of clients—from corporate executives to hourly workers—in all stages of employment disputes, including pre-litigation negotiations, administrative hearings, litigation, and trial.
Sam focuses exclusively on employment law and has successfully handled cases involving age discrimination, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, religious discrimination, sexual harassment, general workplace harassment, unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, wage disputes, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their workplace. Unfortunately, many employees in California still face serious challenges such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination—issues that violate both federal and state labor laws. At Elite Employment Law, we exclusively represent employees and have a success rate surpassing 97 percent. We understand what it takes to achieve justice and are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Contact an Orange County Employment Attorneys Today
If you’re facing issues at work—whether it’s harassment, retaliation, wage disputes, wrongful termination, or any other employment law concern—Elite Employment Law is here to help. We’re committed to protecting your rights and fighting for the fair treatment and compensation you deserve. Every employee has the right to a safe, respectful, and lawful workplace. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you. Contact Elite Employment Law today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice.
Why Choose Our Orange County Religious Discrimination Lawyers?
At Elite Employment Law, our Orange County attorney exclusively represents employees. We focus our entire practice on protecting the rights of workers and seeking justice for those who have been wronged in the workplace.
When you meet with us for a free confidential consultation, we will listen to your story, evaluate your case, and explain your rights. We are here to help you determine the next best step.
If we represent you, we will create a legal strategy unique to your situation. We will help you file a complaint with the appropriate government agency, and negotiate with your employer for a fair resolution. If we are unable to resolve the dispute through negotiations, we will vigorously represent you in court to help protect your rights and achieve justice.
Remember, it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for reporting religious discrimination or filing a complaint. Let us help.
Understanding Religious Discrimination
Religious discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfavorably because of their religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations. This type of discrimination can occur in numerous ways, including:
- Disparate treatment in hiring, firing, or promotion decisions
- Harassment based on religious beliefs or practices
- Failure to provide reasonable accommodations for religious observances
- Creating a hostile work environment due to religious bias
California law protects not only individuals who belong to traditional, organized religions but also those who have sincerely held religious, ethical, or moral beliefs.
Legal Protections Against Religious Discrimination
California workers are protected from religious discrimination by both state and federal laws including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The FEHA is a state law that prohibits discrimination based on religion in workplaces with five or more employees. It offers broader protections than federal law and applies to smaller employers.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits religious discrimination in workplaces with 15 or more employees.
These laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees or job applicants based on their religion in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits.
Reasonable Accommodations for Religious Practices
Under both California and federal law, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s religious beliefs or practices, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business. Examples of reasonable accommodations include:
- Flexible scheduling to allow for religious observances
- Modifications to workplace policies or practices
- Allowing religious dress or grooming practices
However, an employer is not required to accommodate religious beliefs or practices that would result in undue hardship, such as significant difficulty or expense.
Potential Remedies in Religious Discrimination Cases
If your religious discrimination claim is successful, you may be entitled to certain remedies, including:
- Back pay and benefits
- Reinstatement to your job (if you were terminated)
- Compensatory damages for emotional distress
- Punitive damages (in cases of intentional discrimination)
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
Case Results
Workplace Retaliation Case
$2.95 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a manager fired for objecting to race discrimination the manager faced from co-workers.
Unpaid Overtime Case
$1.6 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a sales manager deprived of earned commissions and overtime wages.
Sexual Discrimination Case
$750,000 Settlement- Confidential settlement for a vice president subject to sex discrimination, including hundreds of thousands in unpaid bonuses paid to male peers.
Testimonials
“If you’re in need of an Employment Lawyer, I highly encourage you to at least speak with the team at Elite Employment Law and see what they can do to help you!”
“Sam and the entire team at Elite Employment Law are fantastic. I recently had a need for guidance and support in an employment-related case and spoke with several different firms and attorneys before deciding to work with Sam. His firm has a great set of support staff to help with intake and onboarding, making the process very smooth. For Sam’s part, he maintained active communication as the case progressed, and promptly replied to all my questions throughout.”
-Zachary C.
“Sam Nielson handled my wrongful termination and defamation claims with a skill and expertise that went beyond just the basics of law. He was excellent at coaching me through the process and managing my expectations every step of the way. None of this was fun, but I am very glad Sam was there to be my guide.”
-Bill B.
“Working with Elite Employment Law was a seamless experience. Their team was professional, efficient, and made the entire process simple. They kept me informed every step of the way and delivered outstanding results. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend their services!!”
-Adam B.
Areas Our Orange County Employment Lawyers Serve
We proudly serve the following neighborhoods in Orange County, CA:
Anaheim | Irvine | Newport Beach | Huntington Beach | Laguna Beach | Costa Mesa | Santa Ana | Fullerton | Orange | Mission Viejo | Garden Grove | Buena Park | San Clemente | Tustin | Westminster | Yorba Linda | Dana Point | Lake Forest | Aliso Viejo | Laguna NiguelCypress | Fountain Valley | La Habra | Laguna Hills | Laguna Woods | Los Alamitos | Placentia | Rancho Santa Margarita | Seal Beach | Stanton
Contact Our Orange County Religious Discrimination Attorneys Today
Religious discrimination can not be tolerated. If you believe you have been a victim of religious discrimination in the workplace, let us help you.
We are committed to protecting your rights and ensuring justice is served. Contact us today for a free confidential consultation. We will review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next steps towards a fair and respectful work environment.