The BBC conducted a social experiment in London that may be just as relevant in the current American political and social climate. Participating employees from the BBC television program “Inside Out London” applied to 100 different job opportunities using two different resumes of equal skills and qualifications. One resume was from a candidate named “Adam” and the other belonged to a candidate named “Mohamed.” Adam received three times more interviews than Mohamed, suggesting that discrimination against Muslims in the workplace is a daunting reality.
The fictitious candidates applied to jobs in London’s competitive Advertising Sales industry over a two-and-a-half-month period. Both resumes were also submitted electronically to four different job sites, with similar results. Adam received twice as many interview requests as Mohamed. Although the BBC experiment was fairly limited, the results echo similar recent research on discrimination facing Muslims in the workforce.
Religious Discrimination is a Growing Concern
Since September 11, American Muslims have faced increased scrutiny in every facet of society, including the job market. After 9/11, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recorded a staggering 250% increase in reported cases of religious discrimination against Muslim Americans. That accounted for 20% of the organization’s total cases. In Britain, similar discrepancies exist. A Bristol study found that Muslim men are almost 75% less likely to be hired for jobs than their Christian peers.
Once through the door and officially hired, Muslim employees in America still face discrimination. Muslims that request time for prayer breaks in accordance with their religion are often denied, even though state and federal laws provide workers reasonable accommodations for religious reasons. Employers may claim that anti-beard or anti-hijab or headscarf policies are for safety reasons when really they are used to discriminate against practicing Muslims. Very public cases include occasions where Muslim teachers, police officers, and other professionals have either been prohibited from wearing headscarves or fired for wearing them.
With the current political climate as it is, job discrimination against Muslims does not appear to be waning. For things to change, sizable and public companies must openly oppose discrimination against all minorities. Americans can flex their economic muscle to support companies that promote diversity. Minorities that experience discrimination may also have legal recourse against their employers. A qualified Cherry Hill employment lawyer can advocate for victims of religious discrimination throughout New Jersey.
Cherry Hill Employment Lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. Protect Workers From Religious Discrimination
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of religion. Employees that are victims of job discrimination can fight back with the assistance of a Cherry Hill employment lawyer. Skilled in employment law, Cherry Hill employment lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. fight workplace discrimination in all its forms. Call our Red Bank, New Jersey office at 856-985-9800 to schedule a free initial consultation or fill out our convenient online contact form to begin.