What! you weren't making any jokes about Muslim homosexuals? Very wise, but from today, in the workplace, it would be illegal, or at least actionable. Of course, if you know any jokes about Christian heterosexuals.. They turn the other cheek you know.
As of today in England and Wales it is illegal to discriminate against anyone in the workplace/employment practices based on either religious or sexual orientation grounds. I believe Scotland and North Ireland are excluded. Mind you imagine the scene in Northern Ireland -
Gerry Adams, Sein Fein/IRA "I want to join the British Army and you can't discriminate agenda me because I'm a Catholic"
British Army Sergeant "If you're a devout Catholic then I'm the Pope"
According to Alert over religious belief law areas such as Birmingham, England could have a problem because of their high ethnic population including Muslims, Sikhs and other religions. "With Christmas only a matter of weeks away employers should also consider whether their approach to the festive season in any way discriminates against non-Christians and may prefer to follow a politically correct lead of a more inclusive approach to 'happy holidays' for everyone." So it might even be possible that putting up a "Happy Christmas" banner in the office could be challenged. It is possible some common sense will prevail. On the other hand..
It is not entirely clear what religious discrimination is. For example, it seems Pagans might have an issue or two and I imagine Satanists might even try their luck. In the Financial Times Discrimination laws 'may prove minefield' "also states that "philosophical beliefs" must be protected." "Companies could fall foul of the laws if they fail to allow time off for religious holidays, change working arrangements to allow employees to pray at certain times of the day or insist on dress codes that members of some religions cannot adhere to." "they can be liable if employees are harassed or insulted by colleagues because of their sexual orientation or religious beliefs" Fire the Rastafarian for smoking cannabis on the job? No! It's in their religion, you know. I may just convert.
Churches and faith based schools are excluded from the sexual orientation regulations but gay groups are ready to challenge that Anti-discrimination laws welcomed, but warnings continue over faults "It is currently being challenged in the courts be some of the country’s leading unions, who believe it undermines the rest of the equality offered by the new legislation." Britain has had one gay Bishop who resigned under pressure. In this exclusion is removed, then he could sue if the Church didn't do enough to protect him in his job.
One of Britain's unions, Amicus, had a Balloon Celebration for Introduction of Sexual Orientation Regulations "The new regulations will see a massive leap forward in anti-discrimination laws for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people." Actually it might not cover transgender. Transgender not being classed as a sexual orientation. There is no mention that they celebrated the religious discrimination regulations.
It remains to be seen how silly or otherwise this gets. Actions are heard by an Industrial Tribunal. Industrial Tribunals have been somewhat less politically correct than courts in the past. I am against hating any group just for being but when a bishop was recently questioned by police when he suggested gays needed a medical cure it says something about the priories. For comparison U.K. Woman Wins Late-Term Abortion Case "A clergywoman Monday won the right to take legal action against a police chief for failing to prosecute doctors who performed a late-term abortion of a fetus with a cleft lip and palate." "British law allows abortions after 24 weeks only if the child suffers a serious handicap. The Rev. Joanna Jepson, who has a deformed jaw, argued that facial deformity doesn't constitute such a handicap." The police, I imagine, thought this none of their business, even though illegal, or maybe it was easier to duck an unPC case. In the meantime, on your employment applications include "Devil Worship" in your hobbies and interests and if they don't hire you for the job, possibly because you're no good at it, you could claim it was due to religious discrimination and maybe get some compensation. Make a nice Christmas bonus, sorry December holiday bonus.
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