In the United States, the debate about how much religious freedom employees have in the workplace is ongoing. The article below details European cases of religious beliefs and how attire conflicts with job duties. The European Court of Human Rights is preparing to make a decision that will affect the employment rights of Christians. The four workers with such employment discrimination complaints include: an airline employee, a nurse, a municipal official, and a relationship counselor. Past court rulings have led to confusion on what is considered religious discrimination and how an employee can prove they are being discriminated against. The article provides an example of a municipal official whose job involves officiating civil partnership ceremonies. Same-sex civil partnerships became legal in Britain in 2005. She refused to perform this job duty because it conflicted with her Christian beliefs. The concern of the right to wear religious garb in the workplace is a topic currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Similar to this, in Europe a nurse was prevented from completing some of her job duties because she wore a crucifix necklace. Some have argued that while the nurse should be protected from religious discrimination, the rights of patients to a healthy and safe hospital environment must also be considered. In regards to wearing crucifix necklaces, the court’s decision stated that employers had the right to ask employees to comply with safety regulations. Although the four religious discrimination complaints described in the article were rejected by the European Court of Human Rights, this does not mean that similar complaints are not legitimate or that employers are allowed to discriminate based on religion. Religious discrimination in the workplace can lead to demotions, lost wages, and termination.
From: Harvey Morris; The New York Times
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