Diversity/Religion In The Workplace

Nurses General Nursing

Published

You are reading page 3 of Diversity/Religion In The Workplace

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

However, my understanding of the tichel is it's worn by *married* Orthodox Jewish women. (correct me if I'm wrong.) If she converts to Orthodox Judaism and gets married, she shouldn't have an issue either. But right now, she is neither Jewish nor married. So her religious rights aren't being violated.

It depends. In some Orthodox communities, females are encouraged to wear headscarf even if they are not married, or if they are going to be married soon.

Anyway, there are only two legal options for modern American workplace: either prohibit ALL religious-associated items, or only prohibit those items, religious-associated or otherwise, which present some sort of danger due to their qualities, like a huge chained crosses which can be pulled by a patient. Many places do not favor tatoos or bright-colored hairs due to inner conservativeness of medicine as a professional field. But it is difficult to imagine nowadays a policy which would prohibit accesoires associated with only certain religion and permit ones associated with another, as it would be discriminatory. And if an item is not expressively prohibited, it is thus permitted, and that's nobody's business why anyone is choosing to wear it.

What happened with OP's friend was not just "feeling hurt". It was expressive discrimination with many illegal components (it is absolutely illegal to raise questions about religion during job interview, to begin with) plus complete idiotism of administration.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
Actually depending on the faculity this is entirely possible that they have a specific policy against headwear. In fact this is directly from my employee handbook

"Headwear such as hankies, bandanas, and hats are prohibited unless

required in work area. Variances may be granted based on medical, ethnic and cultural

considerations"

So the OP's friend gave no reason for her wearing said head piece and went against the hospital policy.

She had cultural preference to wear it and stated so. Plus, she was asked several times about being Muslim. As I wrote, it showed cultural incompetence (not only Muslim women wear head coverings) and insentivity of administration to the staff's cultural values.

BSN16

389 Posts

Specializes in ICU, trauma.
She had cultural preference to wear it and stated so. Plus, she was asked several times about being Muslim. As I wrote, it showed cultural incompetence (not only Muslim women wear head coverings) and insentivity of administration to the staff's cultural values.

unless i'm missing something, i didn't read anything where she told administration WHY she was wearing the headscarf. Yes, they did ask her if she was muslim but all she said was "no" without further explanation. Which would leave administration to believe she was wearing it just "because"

Seriously, all the OPs friend had to say was "No i'm not muslim, but i am jewish and wear this headscarf to adhere to my religious values". case closed

chare

4,237 Posts

I almost expected her to follow that up with "This is Trump's America now!" and post pictures of the Swastikas that were painted on her friend's garage.

:yawn:

Actually, that should be Amerika.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
You can't be serious. Every single place I have worked specifically prohibits hats/scarves or any other such cranial accessory unless it is part of religious garb. As such the employer has every right to ask if her headgear is a religious requirement. All she would have had to do is provide a simple "yes" and that would have ended it. The violation would have been if she was challenged to defend her religion's rules. She created this issue by being evasive. If she pulls this stunt at her next job the end result will be the same. I can't wear what I want just because I want to even if it represents my culture of which I am very fond. "Diversity" and "inclusiveness" have nothing to do with someones' fashion sense in the clinical environment. We are more than welcome to fly our individual freak flags on our own time. If I deviate from the dress code I better be prepared to explain why. Her "friend" isn't doing her any favors by being so darn melodramatic either.

I do not know if the OP's friend was "melodramatic" and "evasive" as I was not presenting there. I also do not know if she had ever actually stated her cultural preferences and how exactly she did it. What we do know is that she was asked about her religion during interview (which was illegal thing to do and should be a huge red flag for her) and then worked for weeks with no one's being concerned. Then, out of the blue sky, things went downhill. Why did it happen?

If it were so grave violation of a policy, it should be addressed immediately. If it were just a minor cultural thing not bothering anyone for weeks, it could be left alone. Maybe it is due to my own very similar mistreatment in the past, but for me it all would mean much more about the facility's "culture" than just "policy violation" IF the OP's friend gave at least some explanation why she chose to wear that scarf.

Extra Pickles

1,403 Posts

My own two cents is that the OP's friend allowed what should have been a tiny molehill turn into a huge mountain. She was asked about religion during an interview, and that was wrong, however they hired her so her answer did not factor into that decision, obviously not a negative discrimination.

When she was asked again if she was Muslim it seems pretty clear to me that they were asking in a roundabout way if she was wearing that headscarf for religious reasons (and therefore would be permitted to do so). By not directly answering the question they were REALLY asking, which should have been obvious, she left it open that she might just have a strange fashion sense and one that violated the employee dress code.

She was then told to not wear that headscarf. She chose to disregard a directive from her supervisor, chose to "blow it off" and do as she wanted. HUGE mistake. All she had to do was say, "Oh, I didn't realize when you asked me if I was Muslim that it was because I might not be allowed to wear this headcovering if I wasn't. I do wear it for religious reasons, and my religion is not Islam." She could offer up being Jewish if she wanted to clarify, but didn't have to. Seems clear to me that they were looking to be able to explain the reason for the garb, rather than deny her wearing it at all.

There's been several mentions of this woman not being Jewish and therefore not having a "right" to wear the headcovering, but I think I'm reading the OP's story differently. She said her boyfriend was Jewish and that she might marry him, and he'd expect he headcovering. To ME that means that she is also Jewish but not an adherent to orthodox traditions, but her boyfriend is orthodox and would expect it. Hard to picture an orthodox man who is set on his wife wearing a headscarf after the wedding but WOULD be dating and possibly marrying someone who was non-Jewish to start with! And if a headcovering is very important to him and/or her, then she'd be going through a conversion process before they married anyway, which would make her Jewish if she wasn't before. I understand the process is a lengthy one and she might be moving into that way of living life as part of it. I wouldn't judge her as not entitled to wear the headscarf, we don't know her religious status and we shouldn't care.

I do care that she should have seen the problem a mile away and sought to ease out of it, make the already uncomfortable situation go away quickly. I do care that she disobeyed her supervisor without explanation or regard for policy. Maybe she wanted to make some kind of statement by purposely being evasive, if she did it sure backfired.

NurseLife88, ADN, RN

1 Article; 107 Posts

LOL, yeah , the "this is the world we live in" got me too... :rolleyes:

Unfortunately it is the world we live in. People discriminate everyday in so many ways. People are killed and tortured regularly for things such as religion, race, sexuality, etc. I don't necessarily think that this story is discrimination but without all the details you never really know. So no it definitely is not the saddest story ever by any means. Seeing a photo of a Syrian man holding his two dead infant boys after a gas attack is what I would say is saddest story of my month, but these stories are one in thousands. That is what is sad. That people continue to be biased and prejudiced in their own lives which then spills over into the facets of everyday lives of others and causes undue harm and hurt. I agree with many posters her who say that if this OPs friend would have not been so evasive then things may have ended different, but the same goes for HR had they handled it different but such is not the case. Seems feelings were bound to get hurt at some point. There are many ways for people to handle what they feel may be illegal discrimination in the workplace but darn I just think wouldn't it be nice if it was a non issue instead of one people deal with regularly all over the globe.

NurseLife88, ADN, RN

1 Article; 107 Posts

And put on Facebook saying "99% of you will just scroll through, like and share if you care about diversity!"

Lol. Sorry but no. I'm against discrimination of any form. Including the form of Trump. Unfortunately I know how it feels to be discriminated against and attacked for certain things such as my brown skin. I said this is the world we live in because it is. Maybe not for all but definitely for some.

Specializes in Cardiac, ER.
And since I'm feeling salty today. This is the "saddest story" you have ever heard? May I suggest you google "Syria+children" for a little perspective?

^^^^THIS

the OP's friend is boo- hooing because she broke the rules and got called on it. Really??

I wonder if they were asking her to see if she qualified for an exemption from the dress code? ...doesn't make much sense that they'd hire her when she interviewed with it, then discriminate against her for being "Muslim". Has she told anyone that it's a religious covering? I'm not sure she could claim religious discrimination if she hasn't ....I acknowledge that I'm no lawyer, though.[/quote

She wan't discriminated against for being Muslim. Read the OP.

OP, your friend should have just told the simple truth, as you stated it. Should she have to? No. She was hired with covered hair, no one, according to you, said anything about it in the hiring process, during orientation, or up until now. So it shouldn't suddenly become an issue. But if she is still in orientation, they can "find" some other reason and get rid of her, so she should just tell them the truth. Of course, she could encounter some anti-Semites.

I heard of a case in France in which some Orthodox Jewish boys weren't allowed to keep wearing the yamikas (skull caps) in public school, so I'm not sure there is a right to wear religious attire on a job. But your friend should talk with a couple of lawyers.

And what's with the crying? Why cry? Just behave like an adult. Unless she's going for pain and suffering/emotional distress.

Wuzzie

5,116 Posts

I do not know if the OP's friend was "melodramatic" and "evasive" as I was not presenting there. I also do not know if she had ever actually stated her cultural preferences and how exactly she did it. What we do know is that she was asked about her religion during interview (which was illegal thing to do and should be a huge red flag for her) and then worked for weeks with no one's being concerned. Then, out of the blue sky, things went downhill. Why did it happen?

If it were so grave violation of a policy, it should be addressed immediately. If it were just a minor cultural thing not bothering anyone for weeks, it could be left alone. Maybe it is due to my own very similar mistreatment in the past, but for me it all would mean much more about the facility's "culture" than just "policy violation" IF the OP's friend gave at least some explanation why she chose to wear that scarf.

Katie, you might want to read the OP again. She described this as the "saddest thing she'd ever heard" and that her "heart is breaking" over it. That's pretty dramatic. She was also very clear that her friend refused to elaborate on her reason for wearing whatever it is on her head which she described as "culturally she likes to wear a head-wrap". She also stated her friend decided to go to the interview "as herself". My understanding of head covering for religious reasons is it has to do with modesty and obedience NOT somebody expressing their individuality. I'll agree that HR should not have asked her if she was "muslim" but I'm thinking the rep was probably trying NOT to be offensive and stumbled with her words. Yes, she should have cut to the chase and asked if she was wearing the hat/scarf/whatever for religious reasons which would be perfectly fine but in this day and age of PC gone awry it's no wonder she was inelegant in her word choice. As for letting her wear it for a bit before saying anything I think there is a good chance the staff let it go to see if it would continue in the interest of being welcoming but when it didn't stop they realized something had to be done.

I'm sorry you were discriminated against and I'm sure this is something you are sensitive about but in this case the OP's friend brought the situation upon herself.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN

1,267 Posts

Specializes in PICU.

It seems some elements of the story are missing. In the interviews it may have been asked and maybe they explained the policy, thus asking if she was Muslim. I think there was likely some comments made to her regarding dress code but may not have elected to tell you as she is presenting her side.

I think that the admins asking her if she were Muslim could have been worded differently, for example.,"our dress code policy states no head-coverings except for religious/cultural reasons. Why are you wearing a head scarf" or something along these lines that a person could easily state. "I am wearing a head-scarf for religious reasons."

Giving such an evasive response and having disregard for the rules comes across as someone who will not adhere to policy or respect rules.

If your friend is truly doing it for modesty and religious or medical reasons, she needs to state so.

There was someone who I worked with who wore a long scarf/head covering. I asked her one night about it and she stated in her culture it was for modesty. I needed no further explanation.

+ Add a Comment