compulsory carol service

[bentilley]

Hi folks,

 

A quick question - can an employer insist that staff attend a christmas carol service?

[unclebulgaria67]

Hi folks,

 

A quick question - can an employer insist that staff attend a christmas carol service?

 

No they cannot do so, because it may conflict with peoples religious beliefs. Also if is outside of work hours, it has to be on a voluntary basis.

[bentilley]

Thanks UncleBulgaria, that's what I thought.

 

the service is during working hours, but they are saying that everyone must attend regardless of faith (or indeed lack of faith).

 

hopefully they'll see sense.

[Sparks_]

Thanks UncleBulgaria, that's what I thought.

 

the service is during working hours, but they are saying that everyone must attend regardless of faith (or indeed lack of faith).

 

hopefully they'll see sense.

 

Maybe go there and read a book! They may say you have to attend but they can not make you join in!

[andydd]

Depends what the alternative is.........

[unclebulgaria67]

There was a case brought by an employee who was Muslim, that his company was offering alcohol as incentive prizes without any alternative. After this case, many companies made it their standard HR policy never to get into a situation of offending any religious beliefs, by making sure there is an alternative. If the carol service is christian and you choose not to attend, you simply state your reasons and ask to continue to work on tasks set by your line manager.

[renegadeimp]

They cant make you attend or participate. It would fall under religious discrimination. They should provide alternative things for people of different faiths, which is why almost all companies dont even consider doing anything like a service.

[citizenB]

Irrespective of the faith issue, I cant see they can force someone to attend any place that doesn't have a direct benefit to their employment ?

[renegadeimp]

If its in work hours, they can as long a its not discriminatory. This is though, so the OP could easily cite discrimination.

[bentilley]

Thanks for all your answers,

 

Just to clarify: I was asking on behalf of an aquaintance. They work at an FE college, and the service was taking place earlier today on site. The instruction was that all staff not teaching at the time must attend (ie all those who were marking, writing assignments, contacting absent students, &c), and those who were teaching had to take all their students to it!

 

I don't yet know what happened eventually, but as I said, hopefully the senior management team saw sense.

[citizenB]

Sorry for my ignorance but what is an "FE College" ?

 

DUH.. Further Education ?

 

The Students in which case would be of an age where they could say whether they wanted to attend or not, surely ?

[renegadeimp]

Thanks for all your answers,

 

Just to clarify: I was asking on behalf of an aquaintance. They work at an FE college, and the service was taking place earlier today on site. The instruction was that all staff not teaching at the time must attend (ie all those who were marking, writing assignments, contacting absent students, &c), and those who were teaching had to take all their students to it!

 

I don't yet know what happened eventually, but as I said, hopefully the senior management team saw sense.

 

Thats risking a pretty big lawsuit. Especially if there are religious things going on there, and its not just a service to say thanks for all the hard work and have a good holiday

[bentilley]

Sorry for my ignorance but what is an "FE College" ?

 

DUH.. Further Education ?

 

The Students in which case would be of an age where they could say whether they wanted to attend or not, surely ?

 

Yup, further education. Students from 16 up, so theoretically yes, although the management are not big fans of free will (which does tend to blow up in their faces pretty often).

[bentilley]

Thats risking a pretty big lawsuit. Especially if there are religious things going on there, and its not just a service to say thanks for all the hard work and have a good holiday

 

That's all I know about it at the moment, but carol 'service' does seem to imply religious content (IMHO), and they're not big on appreciating their staff (very keen on sticks, not sure they know what a carrot is).

[SabreSheep]

What type of FE institution is this?

[ericsbrother]

a seminary?

[Innocent_Bystander]

Why is going at a Carol concert a problem? I am not long back from abroad where (as a Christian) I was absolutely delighted to join in the local Diwali celebrations, joined in with a family for a ceremony honouring Ganesha (the Elephant-headed God) as a precursor to a family wedding, followed by Garba dancing and then at the Hindu wedding ceremony itself and the reception afterwards. I happily join in with New Year celebrations, be they Gregorian, Christian, Hindu, Jewish etc.

I do admit I have a bit of a problem with ritual sacrifice and mutilation, but that is about as far as it goes.

As for being offfered alcohol - well, you don't have to accept it.

To quote Dave Berry: In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'

[renegadeimp]

Because people have different beliefs and don't want to be forced into doing something that's against their beliefs. You may like that sort of thing, I know I don't.

[Innocent_Bystander]

It's not really of being with or against my belief. Just an acceptance that other people have different beliefs and respecting that.

Dave Allen: Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you

[renegadeimp]

And with that comes the right for the op to express their beliefs. And that includes not being forced to participate in a religious ceremony

[citizenB]

Why is going at a Carol concert a problem? I am not long back from abroad where (as a Christian) I was absolutely delighted to join in the local Diwali celebrations, joined in with a family for a ceremony honouring Ganesha (the Elephant-headed God) as a precursor to a family wedding, followed by Garba dancing and then at the Hindu wedding ceremony itself and the reception afterwards. I happily join in with New Year celebrations, be they Gregorian, Christian, Hindu, Jewish etc.

I do admit I have a bit of a problem with ritual sacrifice and mutilation, but that is about as far as it goes.

As for being offfered alcohol - well, you don't have to accept it.

To quote Dave Berry: In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'

 

I doubt that it is the actual going to a carol service that was the problem, but that it was implied it was compulsory.. No one should be forced to attend any type of religious festival if that is not their own choice.