Religious freedom at workplace..

Just read this article on Yahoo news..

Some employee that works in Hollister (owned by A&F) in Westfield was told she had to remove her poppy and wasn't allowed to wear it. You can imagine what a big deal was made when the British media found out about that.

I'm going to address this issue not as a religious freedom issue, but as a secular personal freedom issue.

Companies have dress codes, and everyone has to follow it. People who have piercings and tattoos either have to conceal them if they are in professional settings dealing with customers. In industrial settings people have to cut their hair short or keep it wound under tight caps for safety reasons. In food service jewelry is often prohibited from keeping it falling in the food.

However, sometimes companies do push the limit. Companies have been known to have tattoos and piercings rules to prevent teenagers or people whom they deem as punks from getting a job. Sometimes they have rules to keep people from certain religions or belief systems out. And rules that intentionally discriminate against personal freedom is wrong.

The first question is:

Is this rule reasonably acceptable? Is it professionally necessary or necessary for safety reason? Back room jobs are prohibited from having appearance related rules, but are expected to have reasonable safety related rules. Picky airline companies also have to code and hire airhostesses as 'models', otherwise it would be illegal for them to not hire very competent servers who don't fit the pretty bill.

If the rule is reasonably acceptable under law, then the store is fine.  Otherwise, its a red flag and sure fire illegal whether its a Muslim or some weirdo who likes to wear hijaab for fun.

The second question is whether the rule is universally applied or selectively applied? Would the store prohibit
- A hippie from wearing their bandanna
- A ghetto punk from wearing their do rag
- An African American from wearing traditional headdress
- A cancer patient from wearing a headdress
- Sikhs from wearing their turbans
- A Jew from wearing their kippah
- A Muslim from wearing a hijab

If the answer is no in any circumstance, then the store is discriminatory.

Another interesting thing is, the store has a lawsuit on its hands if some branches follow the rule and some don't. Companies have been known to have different set of rules for upscale locales and different for ghetto locales. So that is why management is expected to be trained in rules and expectations and apply it in every branch no matter what - unless they have exemptions under state or local law for some reason.

That being said, I wondered if one could work as a stripper and sue for a hijaab exception. It would be hilarious if someone did that. Maybe its the weirdo with the hijaab wearing fetish. Then I had a flash of brilliancy for a hijaab po*n or burqua po*n market. Unfortunately, rule 34, that market has been taken. My only brilliant business hope is incorporating the Catholic church.

Good points Sarina ji.

With me there is lots of muslim female staffs who wear normal executive dress(eg: suits+cover their head),In profnl world, clothing comes an attitude, with an attitude ur work performance completely changes as well..so it is necessary to maintain a Profnl look..otherwise its look makes you look more casual..But nothing wrong if anyone wish to cover their head or keeping their religous sign in work place!!😊

It would feel kind of weird talking to a person with whole face covered.

I have no idea how others do but me who wears a hijab and also cover my body with a coat simply avoid a job where I'm forced to take it off. I choose my religion over the job and that's a sacrifice I'm ready to make. This doesn't mean everyone should do it. It's only my personal choice.

If any low(Religious/Govt) forcing women to wear or not wear burqa/abaya its wrong...its all abt  personal choice and free will!!

Originally posted by: rahmona_pakswe

I have no idea how others do but me who wears a hijab and also cover my body with a coat simply avoid a job where I'm forced to take it off. I choose my religion over the job and that's a sacrifice I'm ready to make. This doesn't mean everyone should do it. It's only my personal choice.

 

Coming to the question of religious freedom at work. Of course there should be however I don't think it's possible to work for example as a lawyer or a doctor wearing a burqa. There are certain jobs where you simply need to see the face.

Religious freedom should be a reasonable accommodation is one that eliminates the employee's conflict between his/her religious practices and work requirements and that does not cause an undue hardship for the employer. Also to the legal requirement to accommodate religious employees, a commitment to religious accommodation can improve employee morale and help retain valued employees who are religious.  In the US, there are guidelines on religious exercise and religious expression in the federal workplace. The private employers do not have to adhere to these exact guidelines, but these guidelines can be helpful to shed light on how principles of religious freedom apply in both government and private-sector employment.This hand-in-hand process between employee and the employer.  Edited by night13 - 12 years ago