Can one specify a religion as a condition of employment?

[Famous Graham]

Just came across this job advert. Everything seemed the ideal fit for me....until....well, you can guess

http://www.jobsite.co.uk/cgi-bin/vacdetails.pl?jbe...

Is that legal?

Edited by Famous Graham on Saturday 20th February 19:33

[Batteryboy]

I don't think they can.

Advertise the job in this way
Discriminate against a greek orthodox Jew applying for the post.

[Jasandjules]

I've got a feeling that religion is something they can specify.... But I don't know why I think that.

[Chris_w666]

I don't know but I have seen many similar jobs, demonstrating christian beliefs is a rather loose thing though. Are you christian because you have a little fish on the back of your prius or will buying the big issue at the train station count?

[loltolhurst]

blimey they wont find many religious IT managers!

go there with a christians cd

[Famous Graham]

I'm tempted to apply anyway, see if I get an interview at least. If they ask me about my faith then, well, I'll say I'm not a practising Christian but I was brought up with a certain moral code.

Only problem is, if that works and I get the job...I'll need to book April 30th off for Beltane (I'm organising one of the main performance groups). For those that might not know, Beltane is a huge Pagan celebration

[TheEnd]

That link contains your email address for some reason

[Famous Graham]

Heh, ta - just c&p'd the link from the page - I was logged in to Jobsite.

[singlecoil]

I know various christians, I reckon you'll be ok, from what I've observed the rules on behaviour are very lax, apparently it's perfectly ok for christians to take little or no notice of the welfare of others, for them to be rude and ignorant is fine, so as long as you are better than that, you should be fine.

[Jasandjules]

The reason I think it might be legal is because a mate of mine from Uni got his Training Contract with a firm of Christians, and they only employ Christians (actually, I think at one point he mentioned that if you are not a member of certain church groups).

[rpguk]

In cases like this where a restriction is applied for a legitimate reason common sense is generally applied.

Same way that adverts for pole dancers requesting women only are not pulled up on.

[Deva Link]

It possible for some posts to be "reserved" for people with certain religious beliefs, but it's got to be reasonable. Head teachers in faith schools, for example - but it's been held that it can't be applied to lower level staff.

Maybe it's different in this case as it's a religious Trust? The EU is trying to get religious restrictions removed from church posts, but the Government just lost some proposed changes to Equality law in the House of Lords.

Even so, it's hard to imagine that an IT post could be "reserved".


ETA: There's a bit more detail on their own job page: http://www.bethanychristiantrust.com/vacancies/job...

It says the jobs "carry a GOR in line with Employment Equality (Religion & Belief) Regulations 2003, applicants should have and be able to evidence a genuine Christian faith and commitment."

GOR is Genuine Occupational Requirement

Edited by Deva Link on Saturday 20th February 20:24

[Eric Mc]

Simple answer is no they can't. However, there are exemptions for certain organisations - maonly those which have a religion as their core reason for existing. For instance, the Church of England would not be penalised for only considering Church of England curates for a position of vicar. They could not be taken to court for religious discrimination if they turned down an application from a Rabbi.

[Simpo Two]

Rabbis are under-respresented in the Christian Church - positive discrimination needed!

[Four Cofffee]

I don't think they can for an IT manager. I think they could ask for some understanding of the faith, so that you can be sensitive about what you do and say, but not that you follow that faith. Obvious exemptions for anyone offering any sort of religious or pastoral counseling I guess bi=ut even then it sounds at odds with the legislation.

[fido]

When i was at uni many moons ago, i tried to apply for a trainee position at a Christian firm of accountants - now i did go to a Christian school (well it had a chaplain) and am broadly cognoscente with the teachings of the bible - but alas my application was turned down and i became a bank worker instead. Were they in the wrong, or are firms allowed to discriminate on the grounds of ethical practice?

Edited by fido on Sunday 21st February 16:01

[Plotloss]

Dare you to lie on the application and attend the interview with stick on plastic horns and red contact lenses.

[Eric Mc]

fido said:

When i was at uni many moons ago, i tried to apply for a trainee position at a Christian firm of accountants - now i did go to a Christian school (well it had a chaplain) and am broadly cognoscente with the teachings of the bible - but alas my application was turned down and i became a bank worker instead. Were they in the wrong, or are firms allowed to discriminate on the grounds of ethical practice?

Edited by fido on Sunday 21st February 16:01

What's the difference between a Christian firm of accountans and a non-Christian firm of accountants?

[Famous Graham]

Plotloss said:

Dare you to lie on the application and attend the interview with stick on plastic horns and red contact lenses.

See my earlier reference to Beltane. I could turn up to work dressed in leaves and ask to be referred to as "The Green Man"

[RichBurley]

Perfectly legal under "justification" grounds. A bit like specifying only Chinese people working as Chinese waiters in a Chinese. One is for authenticity reasons, the other is for requirement reasons.

On a slight tangent, do you think a football team could require their staff to support their team, as a job requisite?