Under new EU laws which will come into force in December, a
workplace must provide space for religious workers to pray, whether they are
Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh or any other religion, writes the Sunday Times.
Workers will also be given time off to attend religious festivals and events.
The regulations - known as the employment equality rules - will allow
Christians to refuse to work on a Sunday and Jews to refuse to work on a
Saturday. Muslims will be entitled for time off to attend their annual
festivals, known as Eid.
Some religious observances could become commonplace in the workplace.
The rules will allow Sikhs to carry a hidden ceremonial sword to work. Muslims
will have to be given time off work for a pilgrimage to Mecca - which each
Muslim is supposed to perform once in his or her life. Hindus must be allowed
to shave their head as a sign of mourning and be allowed to scatter the ashes
in the Ganges, in India - requiring a lengthy period off work.
The rules have already created confusion amongst employer groups. The
Confederation of British Industry told the Sunday Times, "if you stop
production at Christmas, should we be keeping our plant or offices open for
non-Christians in the workplace?"