9 Things You Should Know About Religious Discrimination Protections in NYC
All New Yorkers, regardless of who they are, where they were born, or what religion they practice, deserve to live freely and safely from discrimination. That’s why at the New York City Commission on Human Rights, we work to strengthen and support faith communities by enforcing the NYC Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). The NYCHRL protects New Yorkers from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on a number of protected classes, including religion.
Here are 9 things you should know about the NYCHRL and its protections against discrimination based on religion or creed:
Housing Protections
1. Housing providers, like landlords or brokers, cannot unfairly limit the housing choices available to you because of your actual or perceived religion by misrepresenting the availability of housing or by posting discriminatory advertising.
2. Housing providers, like landlords or brokers, cannot refuse to offer you a lease, charge you higher rent, require you to pay additional fees, fail to make repairs or fail to provide adequate heat because of your faith.
3. Housing providers, like landlords or brokers, cannot harass you because of your faith and make you feel unsafe or unwelcome in your home.
Click here to learn more about housing protections under the NYCHRL
Employment Protections
4. Employers cannot discriminate against you based on your faith. For example, employers cannot place you in a non-customer facing role because your faith requires you to wear specific religious attire.
5. Employees have a right to certain reasonable accommodations to observe religious holidays or rituals, including schedule changes and time off. Employers should grant these accommodations as long as they do not cause “undue hardship” on the business.
6. Employees may also request reasonable accommodations for adjustments to dress codes and uniforms. For example, if company policy prohibits hats or head coverings, employees can request an accommodation to wear a hijab, turban, or yarmulke.
Click here to learn more about employment protections under the NYCHRL
Public Accommodation Protections
7. You have the right to enjoy the city and its rich medley of public spaces free from discrimination. Stores, restaurants, and movie theaters, for example, cannot deny you access or make you feel unwelcome because of your actual or perceived faith.
Click here to learn more about public accommodations protections under the NYCHRL
Other Protections Under the Law
8. Discriminatory harassment is illegal under the City Human Rights Law, which means it is illegal for someone to harass you because of your religion in a violent or threatening manner.
9. It is illegal for someone to retaliate against you because you complained about discrimination, filed a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights, or participated in an investigation.
If you have experienced discrimination or harassment based on your religion, call 311 and ask for “Human Rights” or call the Commission’s info line directly at 718–722–3131. For additional information on the NYC Commission on Human Rights, please visit NYC.gov/HumanRights and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Medium.
