Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Christian health worker faces sack over crucifix necklace*

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:25:00 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

Helen Slatter, a practising Catholic, says she is being forced to choose between her job and her faith after her NHS employers demanded that she remove the religious symbol, which she wears beneath her uniform.

Ms Slatter, a phlebologist who collects blood samples at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, in Gloucester, was told at a disciplinary meeting that her position was at risk if she continued to wear the one inch-tall crucifix.
The NHS Trust insisted that their demands were due to a uniform policy and not down to religion. ...

The mother-of-one, from Gloucester, added: "They have told me that for health and safety reasons and for infection control I must take it off or I will be sent home.

Full story.

Related posts:
Knowing your purpose
Be Still
Overcoming adversity
We fall down but we get up
Things the Lord hates
Just like me

Saturday, May 30, 2009 7:25:43 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Well, for safety reasons, the hospital has a no necklaces rule. If that's the case, well then, I don't know if she can claim victimization.

"This policy applies to all staff employed by the trust who wear a uniform on duty.

"Necklaces and chains present two problems – firstly, they can provide a surface that can harbour and spread infections and secondly they present a health and safety issue whereby a patient could grab a necklace or chain and cause harm to the member of staff."

I don't think it would be reasonable for her to expect them to make an exception in her case, and they even offered to let her carry it in her pocket. Jason, what's your opinion on this?
benedict
Monday, June 01, 2009 8:57:14 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I don't see why she can't wear it under her uniform as she has always done. Depending on its length etc, or how deep her uniform is, it may never even be seen.

I understand the employer's perspective to some degree, but as you see in the other stories quoted alongside that article, employers are coming up with more and more ways to remove all type of religious behavior from the workplace.
Comments are closed.