Racial Discrimination?

Question

British Airways has stopped an employee from wearing a crucifix over her uniform.

Does this mean Indian employees cannot wear their bindi?

OK - not racial but Religious discrimination/prejudice/persecution. Whichever way you wish to word it, my point remains the same...

Answer 1

i think its ridiculous...will they stop people wearing a st christopher, the star of david.,, a veil...we live in a democracy..in times when we seem to ensure foreign religions are catered for(ill not say humoured) british christians should not be penalised for wearing the cross...

Answer 2

This is discrimination but its not about race. They need to talk to Bellsouth, Delta, Home Depot and other corporations which don't have a problem with you wearing religious symbols. British Airways is running their company the old way which doesn't work: control the employee and don't let any individualism come out. Keep everything uniform.
It won't affect there sales at all if people show their crucifix. Now if somebody wants to wear a P Diddy 4 lb platinum studded cross, that's different.

Answer 3

BA said wearing jewellery was banned for health and safety reasons - bulls....t The cross apparently was very small and she had been wearing it for about 2 years before they suspended her. It is definitely discrimination and if they are allowed to get away with it (BA that is) then all people from other religions, employed or using their services, should be stopped from wearing their religious objects. Like you say the Indian employees should stop wearing their bindis- could they not unravel and get caught up in machinery? Point made.

Answer 4

Determine wearing a crucifix and wearing a head scarf (Hijab and similar equivalents) stipulated in any known religious text.

Equality Act 2006 (England)
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 (England)
Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulation 2003 (England)
Company’s policy

Determine the act of preventing displaying the crucifix and allowing the hijab beaches or contravenes any of the above.

In light of the present political climate barring company's policies, is a postulate to preserve customer relations.

The hijab should be allowed to avoid inviting potential criticism from certain religious interpretations, whilst at the same time avoiding undue attention from overt displays of other religions, especially perceived to be antagonistic to other religions.

France recently passed a legislation to support stronger secular approach to preserve the national principle of secularity which is yet to be seen in practise. (1)(2)

Should the bindi bring elation and deep cultural appreciation to staff and customers, one may only conclude it to be a great branding coup for BA to display the cultural and religious diversity of the United Kingdom.

On the other hand, the materialisation of an over enthusiastic crowd with a tangle of arm waving accompanied by alacrity tones of conviction in baritone gesticulations, might be a consensus that as alluring and charming as your bindi is, the company, along with the CEO's and shareholders' bottomline is not going to bear sufferance for "bad branding."

Answer 5

This means that the Brits are paranoid, and they should be. When they do stupid things like this and make a "BIG" deal of it-it means they intend to tighten up security on Muslims. They feel that the Christians (assumed) will follow the rules without a fight. So that puts Muslims on notice that they may have to conform to some new rules.
The European governments are afraid that the Muslims are going to nuke then soon. This is getting out of hand. i believe there is a world war just ahead of us. Dear God, I hope I am wrong, but I really believe it. If so, Europe will be nearly destroyed. Many will die.

Answer 6

They probably cannot. Even if they were allowed to wear it, social pressure probably causes them to take it off anyway. I would argue that the same doesn't apply to the person with the crucifix. So, maybe British Airways is attempting not to be hyprocrites. I applaud that decision.

Answer 7

I don't agree with the whole thing and how it has gotten to such a point but the contract of the employment stated no jewlery over her uniform.

it can't be any clearer than this.

like if your contract at your job say you must be on time every day then you can't just go and ignore this because you want to prove a point.

there is a difference between asking somebody to remove an item for no other reason than it is a religious symbol and asking them to remove it because it is against company rules. the rules did not say no crosses because it is offensife (whish it is not) but no jewlery worn over uniform.

Answer 8

British Airways has a policy against wearing any necklace outside your uniform. Not discrimination, just company policy.

Answer 9

it wasn't a crucifix just a plain cross. in other words a piece of jewellery no great threat. much better worrying about these women going through the AIRPORTS with there faces covered. now that is something to be really concerned about. how do you IDENTIFY THEM.

Answer 10

i wouldn't consider it discrimination because every company has a dress code that must be abided to. the employee could have worn her crucifix under her uniform. frankly, i believe by wearing it over her uniform, she was making a statement that could be offensive to people of other religions. specially nowadays when everything and anything can cause disruption of some sort. so it's better not to push it.

Answer 11

No it does not. However, the British Airway thing was like two years ago. Give it a rest.