How To Stop Religious Discrimination

To stop religious discrimination that is already happening, resolving the individual matter is rarely enough. Conduct that has been tolerated once tends to continue quietly unless something visible changes.

Three things interrupt it. Name the specific behaviour rather than issuing a general reminder about respect, because a general reminder tells nobody to stop anything. Have the correction come from the person’s own manager rather than from HR, because that is who they calibrate against. And say what will happen if it continues, so the next instance has a known consequence.

Then check the conditions. If the conduct centred on social events, catering or rostering, change the arrangement rather than asking people to be more careful about it.

Retaliation against the person who raised it is a separate breach in its own right. The Fair Work Ombudsman covers the general protections. This is general information rather than legal advice.

See Sentrient’s code of conduct training and equal employment opportunity course.