What Counts As A Religion In The Workplace?
Over the last two posts I have explained and given examples of the fact that laws relating to religious discrimination in the workplace are used to resolve conflicts between company rules and religious practices in an understanding way. The purpose of these laws is to promote and encourage tolerance and understanding of religious faiths, in order to help people from different faiths integrate into the workplace without feeling under pressure to compromise their faith. Most the time a few basic changes to company practices can help make this possible and in these cases employers are expected to change.
To this extent, laws relating to religious discrimination protect a broad range of faiths and religions – not just the traditional, organised religions like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism. In fact, many will be pleased to know that the same laws apply to protect those who have no religious belief whatsoever, people whose belief is unrecognised by the religious group they affiliate themselves with and even those who are the sole practitioners of their faith. However, although religious beliefs include both theistic beliefs and non-theistic moral beliefs as to the nature of right and wrong; personal preferences or social, political or economic philosophies are not deemed to be religious beliefs, no matter how strongly they are held.
Although courts often rule in favour of religious employees, it must be remembered that the laws are not in place to punish or restrict employers, but to promote understanding and integration. In cases where religious practices genuinely compromise business goals or employee safety, the law is in place to protect the employer, not to rule in favour of outrageous cases like those we read in the tabloids. Furthermore, employees must be able to prove that their religious beliefs are a genuine part of their life – they cannot simply make them up in order to treated differently, then seek out employment solicitors when their pretend-views aren’t respected!
