Religious Discrimination and Harassment

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rates of religious discrimination in the workplace have doubled in the last 15 years, most likely due to the increased awareness of religious rights and the willingness to exercise these rights. The nature of these religious discrimination claims has also changed, where more people are demanding the right to religious expression on the job, and there is a low incidence rate of religious bullying and harassment. (h/t Beliefnet via Blog from the Capital)

Yet, here is a local and recent example of religious bullying and harassment. From the Roanoke Times:

A former Blacksburg Middle School library worker is suing the Montgomery County School Board, accusing it of condoning religious harassment.

Judith Scott ... said in a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Roanoke that an unnamed supervisor held Christian prayer meetings in which she turned out the lights and laid hands on people, "anointed" the library and left religious notes around Scott's workplace. When Scott complained, her 14 years of employment came to an abrupt end, the lawsuit said.

The Times article has more background on the case. How sad and infuriating to me.