Britain’s Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has released the Board of Deputies “Employers Guide to Judaism” earlier this September, where he also warned against religious bullying in the workplace.
Smith addressed the event attendees at the Gordon Dadds law firm and said that companies with Jewish workers should ensure that “nobody should be harassed, bullied, or intimidated at work because of their religion.” Apart from this, Smith also mentioned that “nobody should feel they have to choose between their faith and their job.”
The Work and Pensions Secretary’s latest program is part of the U.K. government’s continuing efforts to ensure that employees with deep and specific religious practices are not bullied at work. Smith even said that the workplace should be a “place of dignity and respect.” It should foster an environment where “talents and skills of different groups are valued,” he added.
Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, also acknowledged the efforts made by the government and said in a statement that they are “deeply proud to have had successive UK governments which have taken steps to ensure that there should be no conflict between living a life of religious faith and building a successful career.”
Meanwhile, the recently launched Board of Deputies “Employers Guide to Judaism” contains 12 pages of Jewish practices and U.K. laws that would cover the religious practices. The guide also provides an explanation on the Jewish religious customs, the Sabbath and other festivals. It also includes sections about discrimination, as well as a guide for Human Resources which indicates recommendations and suggestions on how to resolve issues, as well as the scenarios which should be avoided.
To learn more about the Board of Deputies “Employers Guide to Judaism”, click here. You may also read the full article published at Jewish News through this link.
