No relief for English woman, dismissed for refusing work on Sundays
February 23, 2012
An English employment tribunal has dismissed a complaint from a Christian woman who said that she was dismissed from her job at a nursing facility because she declined to work on Sundays.
Celestina Mba said that she had been willing to work unpopular night and Saturday shifts at the Brightwell Children’s Home, but would not work on the Sabbath. She also offered to accept a pay cut. But she was told that she must work on Sundays or forfeit her job. She charged that the order violated her religious rights.
In a separate case last year, an English employment tribunal upheld a complaint by a Muslim man who was not allowed to leave his post as a security guard in order to attend mosque services on Fridays. The tribunal ruled that his employer was obliged to accommodate the man’s religious beliefs.
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Posted by: -
Feb. 23, 2012 7:09 PM ET USA
It is unfortunate for this lady, but I agree with the tribunal. As an employer, I do not wish to be told that I have to pay for your contraceptives or whatever and I set the rules for working, and you get money. Period. Although, the other tribunal was obviously worried about being attacked by Muslim parties for denying his mosque request.
