Religion or Belief Discrimination at Work

In recent years, anti-discrimination legislation has been widened to include poorly treating or favouring a person on the grounds of their religion or belief, regardless of what those beliefs are. The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations came into force in December 2003 and are intended to protect schoolchildren, students, and people in the workplace. There isn't a list of religions that are to be tolerated, and the field has been deliberately left wide open so as to include any belief systems that might come into vogue in the future.
Indirect and Direct Discrimination
As with other forms of discrimination, the legislation covers direct and indirect action, whether it's positive or negative, as well as victimisation and harassment. Direct discrimination is the deliberate treatment of somebody of a particular religion in a particular way, for example failing to promote someone because of their religion, whereas indirect action is making rules that would disadvantage someone of a particular religion, such as banning religious headwear on Health And Safety Grounds, which would discriminate against certain practising Muslims, Jews or Sikhs. It could also be that there is always a particular regular meeting on Friday afternoons, which may indirectly discriminate against some practising Jews and Muslims, in the same way that enforced Sunday working would offend strict Christians. Victimisation and harassment are obviously banned at work social events, and any event that is organised by the company.Positive Action
These laws put the onus on employers to take active steps to make sure that discrimination on these grounds (or any other grounds) isn't happening. Companies must educate employees to be aware of the ramifications of these regulations and monitor situations to ensure that everything is above board. This can cause problems when there is a crossover with personal privacy, as some people may not want their religious views to be made known.Some religions need to have different holidays or certain times of the week off to practise their faith, so companies should take steps to allow people to observe the obligations of their faith. It is the responsibility of workers to give managers reasonable notice of the dates and times, and make sure that arrangements can be made to ensure the business does not suffer.
Exemption from Regulations
There are, as with many of the other forms of discrimination, certain special cases where an exemption from the regulations may be made. An example might be where a Roman Catholic school is looking for Religious Education teacher, or if a particular faith is at the core of an organisation's reason for existence, such as a charity providing support to a particular religious group.The key is that there has to be a genuine need for someone to be of a particular faith, either because of the nature of the organisation or the post advertised. This exemption can be applied in the other direction too, in that an employer may choose not to employ someone if they believe they do not meet the religious need.
Re: Can Employer Cut Wages Without Warning?
When l have appointments at the hospital my boss all ways says sorry you will have to cancel it as don't have cover…
Re: Can an Employer Change Our Holiday Arrangements?
I get my annual leave from April to end of march. I have taken time off during the summer of 2020 and…
Re: Your Rights when your Company Relocates
Hi, my partner has been told she is having to relocate as her employer is moving buildings, its further away and she…
Re: Working Rights of Single Parents
Hello. I work in a private care home. Next week will bring people out of the hospital with positiv COVID. Do I have to go…
Re: The Different Types Of Dismissal And Your Rights
Hi, I have worked at my job for nearly 7 years, good worker and no problems, I called another colleague…
Re: Working Rights of Single Parents
A work colleague has being sacked during Christmas of this year.She is a single mum of four kids.Unfortunately I do not know…
Re: Working Rights of Single Parents
Hi I have been rotad until 11pm on evening of which I can only get childcare until 10pm. I notified my manager 3 weeks prior…
Re: Can an Employer Change Our Holiday Arrangements?
I get 30 days holiday plus bank holidays my employer made me use 5 holidays during furlough and reduced…
Re: Health Issues and Confidentiality
I recently had a covid test and informed my employer that i was waiting on results to see if i could return to work. I had…
Re: The Different Types Of Dismissal And Your Rights
My depot controller told us whatever is damaged and thrown off we could take once is out of the depot. A…