Christians are concerned their religion is ‘losing its place’ in the workplace, according to a public consultation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The consultation discovered widespread confusion about the laws protecting freedom of religion or belief.
Some employees – but particularly Christians – said they felt under pressure to hide their religion at work, especially when it came to wearing religious symbols or expressing their beliefs.
Jewish and Muslim respondents said they found it hard to get time off work for religious observance, with some alleging they were passed over for promotion or recruitment due to their beliefs.
Humanists and atheists reported that they experienced unwanted religious proselytising at work, and also felt excluded in workplaces which held prayer meetings or events in religious buildings.
Mark Hammond, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: ‘What we found from the thousands of responses we received was a complex picture of different opinions and experiences.
'However, what came out strongly was the widespread confusion about the law, leading to some resentment and tensions between groups and anxiety for employers who fear falling foul of what they see as complicated equality and human rights legislation.’
The Commission will be developing guidance for dealing with these issues in the workplace in the future.
