Shutting the office over Christmas could be seen as discriminatory by followers of some religions, according to a leading employers’ group, The Employers Forum
Oh it is truly pathetic at times. The Empoyers Forum is at it again, last time it was advise to keep biscuits out of meetings and rearrange working hours during the Muslim festival of Ramadan. Seriously have they nothing better to do?
Non-Christians have to use up their annual leave to celebrate their own religious holidays and so may resent the fact that all staff are given time off over the festive period, it is claimed.
The Employers Forum on Belief recommends that bosses try to win staff over by telling them it is cost-effective to shut the business down completely at the end of December and start of January.
The group says there is no reason for companies to avoid celebrating Christmas for fear of offending minority faiths, although it advises putting up “seasonal” decorations in workplaces instead of religious ones.
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Its new guide to the main event in the Christian calendar states: “There is no need to panic about Christmas at work.”
It includes a spoof series of emails from an HR director to staff about a Christmas party, in which she struggles to avoid upsetting Jews, Muslims, alcoholics, homosexuals, the obese and vegetarians by catering for their varied needs.
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“The challenge of appearing ‘politically correct’ has led some to the view that imposing a Christian festival on modern multi-cultural Britain is inappropriate.”
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….it may be more sensitive to use seasonal rather than religious imagery.
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It goes on: “Because the Christmas season includes a number of public holidays many employers will close their operations for those days, or for a longer period.
“This may leave non-Christians feeling disadvantaged, since some may have to take holiday to participate in their own religious festivals.
“An extended Christmas closedown may therefore indirectly discriminate on the ground of religion or belief so employers should be clear as to the reasons why it is necessary which might include cost savings where the majority of staff will want to take holiday and costs can be saved by closing down completely.”
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It states that “tribunals have dismissed the notion that Christians have any privilege for time off for religious reasons”.
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