How To Avoid Religious Discrimination In The Workplace

The reliable way to avoid religious discrimination is to reduce the number of moments where a manager has to invent an answer under time pressure. Five decisions, made once, remove most of them.

• Whether shift swaps for religious observance are approved by default, and who signs off.
• Whether your dress standard states a genuine requirement or a preference, in writing.
• Where someone can go for a few quiet minutes, named rather than improvised.
• How catering is handled at work functions, as a standing arrangement.
• Who a person asks if their manager says no.

The last one does most of the work. A refusal that can be reviewed rarely becomes a complaint, because most people are not looking to escalate, they are looking for someone to actually consider the request.

The Fair Work Ombudsman covers the general protections. Given the jurisdictional variation, this area is worth a lawyer’s view. This is general information rather than legal advice.

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