Is it right that a reputable company such as British Airways suspend someone for wearing a crucifix?

Question

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6147122,00.html

I am a Muslim woman and I am NOT offended by a woman wearing a crucifix..
Shouldn't people have the right to dress how they need according to their religion..If someone has a problem with anothers dress it is their problem not the wearer's.

Answer 1

I m a muslim 2 and I completely agree with u - its completely immoral, and i m finding it hard to even think that the British Airways had done something like that. Maybe they should pay a fine for this or something. Ppl have the right to dress like whatever they want to be and should not be regarded as a security issue for following their own religion.

By the way u seem like a nice person - why have u kept ur nick name "Bad Dokhtar"? I guess u r not what ur nickname says in persian. Salam

Answer 2

As I understand it, the dichotomy is here:

1. BA workers are representatives of BA, and it could be construed by some that a BA worker wearing a Christian symbol shows BA to be a Christian company.
2. BA has an open employment policy that does not discriminate based on religion.

This issue is a wee bit different from Crown corporations, public services and government offices. BA _is_ a private company with a right to present itself how it wants. Having said that, is suspension correct?

It is a tricky question. A Sikh's turban and a Muslim's hijab are worn by those who choose to wear them primarily out of a belief that God wants them to dress that way. I have never heard of a Christian who says that God wants them to wear a crucifix. Every crucifix-wearer I have ever spoken to about it (admittedly not many) says that they do it of their own free will as a sign of their fath.

A sign of their faith is different than a requirement.

Having said that, I'm not sure exactly where I stand. I'm just considering the other side. Playing Devil's Advocate, as it were...

Plus, how can I avoid answering such a famous and heroic questioner? ;)

Answer 3

No, people should not have the right to dress how they want according to religion, if their places of employment have rules against it. Dress code is part of the job and should be respected, or work somewhere else. Wearing a crucifix is not unlike wearing a political badge to work, which is unacceptable with most employers.

Answer 4

If the rules state that you cannot wear religious icons on your uniform, then they are doing what is right by suspending her. I imagine they have a similar rule for women stewardesses wearing the veil if they are Muslim.

I can see where they get that rule however; they don't want their employees being associated with one religion or another and wearing a cross on your uniform might mislead someone to thinking that (although it's a stretch lol). If it was that important that she wear one, she should've worn it on a necklace inside her uniform. If it is that important to her faith to display it to the world, then don't be a stewardess, get a different job.

Answer 5

I think so. It is a private company, so they have the right to promote whatever "look" they think is business appropriate to them. If she chose not to take it off, she should be suspended. If you had a company, would you let your employs just dress however they want? This is little about religion and more about work-dress etiquette. Only reason it is on the news is because a religious garment is involved.

Answer 6

i'm definitely with British airlines in this one. that is one ingredient to run an airline via springing up an attractive jet-set photograph of satisfied human beings traveling the worldwide and having a ball, yet quite yet another ingredient to repair the wear and tear led to via human beings wearing Bibles, rocking forwards and backwards in front of partitions, others clutching Rosary Beads and crucifixes, and Asian women wearing waiting-made parachutes. expensive God, in spite of next? The admission that flying at 30,000ft the place the air-temparture is -40c may be a teeny-weeny bit volatile?

Answer 7

I think the crucifix can be offensive, as Christ is no longer on the cross, and it is not walking in love with the Lord, by making everyone think you are a pious sort of person.

Answer 8

I agree with you but if these are the company rules and a person works in the company then you choose to abide to the rules. This does not mean I approve this rule; it's similar to the French school forcing the students to take their hijab off.

Answer 9

I do not think anyone should be penalized for wearing jewelry depicting their beliefs BUT they (British Airways) may have a company policy regarding the wearing of jewelry.

Answer 10

I would stand up and applaud you but I'd wake the kids.
:)
Addition: I think religion should be personal but people should be able to wear or dress accordingly. It's too bad other people can't respect that and let life go on. Maybe someday.