Religious discrimination

Nine months ago a new law was introduced, which protects all people from any kind of religious discrimination in the workplace.  In the 2001 Census it was revealed that 76.8 per cent of the UK population considered themselves members of a religious group.

Many Muslim staff has found the working environment less friendly since 9/11 and they feel there is a difference in the way Muslims are treated since the war on terrorism was declared.  Many people feel the law is a welcome introduction to securing equality during work hours.

People blame discrimination for the lack of education on the absence of diversity and religious intolerance.  They call for more information to be given on faith and race to be distributed in the workplace.

Acas, the Advisory Conciliation And Arbitration Service, is drawing up a downloadable guide offering examples, which include dubious banter of unacceptable office antics.

The Banking corporation HBOS, which is the merged Halifax and Bank Of Scotland groups, has taken measures to comply with the new regulations.  The corporation runs faith focus groups to educate staff and they also provide flexible hours for workers during the religious periods including Ramadan and Eid.

Ethnic minorities represent 6.3 per cent of its staff, to help them the HBOS uses local demographic data to shape its workforce.  The HBOS gives all its managers calendars with religious and celebratory festivals, which enables them to anticipate potential requests.  They also hang celebratory posters around the offices at the time of Holi Hai, which is the Hindu spring festival and Diwali and the Chinese New Year.

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