to think that this is religous discrimination.

[reallytired]

It seems over the top to have an investigation and threats of disciplinary action.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-13108578

If the company really objects to a palm cross then surely they could just ask him to remove it. Unless he has repeatly ignored reminders not to have personal artifacts in his van, then it seems a bit heavy handed.

I think the tenant who complained is just plain malicious. Its not as if a palm cross was hurting anyone.

Would this company allow a muslim electrician to carry a prayer mat in his van?

I think that this company need to do a spot check to see that EVERY van is clear of personal artifacts during the working day.

Not discrimination at all since it applies to all staff.

They told him he can't keep personal items in THEIR van. He keeps saying his van but it isn't it is their van.

Another example of religious people thinking that rules don't apply to them.

I read this article yesterday in the daily mail and he has had this cross in his van for years and no one has ever complained. It is just the company is getting its knickers in a twist over a non issue.

They've told him he can wear a cross on his person, just not have it attached to their van. It is their van, not his.

Like being a teacher - you can wear a cross around your neck, but it would be wrong to decorate the classroom you teach in with them.

From what I remeber, they asked him to remove it on several occasions and he has steadfastedly refused. It's a place of work, not his personal space, so IMHO they have every right to insist he removes it as they should for similar religeous items not on the employees person.

"Not discrimination at all since it applies to all staff."

But do they enforce the rule with non christians as harshly?
I think its fair for the company to have such a rule provided its applied to all staff. I am sure that if they did spot checks then there would be other people with personal items in their vans.

The punishment needs to be proportionate. We all break rules make mistakes at work. I think that the threat of displinary action is over the top.

"Would this company allow a muslim electrician to carry a prayer mat in his van?"

Probably. Then again he's allowed carry the cross in the van as well. just not display it, a better comparison would be (and excuse my ignorance as I do not know what the item is called or symbolises I have only ever seen it in Muslim cars so believe it is religion based) if a Muslim was displaying a religious artifact such like the script things some muslims have hanging from their rear vew mirror.
If this man wants to have the cross in his bag or in the boot no probem, he just can't display it.

"But do they enforce the rule with non christians as harshly? "

We have absolutely no evidence to the contrary so I see no reason to assume that they are disproportionately targetting Christians

SP Religious obviously

The threat of disciplinary action will be because he is refusing to obey the rule. It's their van and their money they are paying him. If he wants to advertise his church he can resign and do it in this own time.

What do you mean "make mistakes at work"? did you think he left it in there by accident and when they told him to remove it he accidentally left it there?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377684/Electrician-Colin-Atkinson-faces-sack-Christian-cross-van-dashboard.html

he has displayed his small palm cross for 15 years without complaint from anyone.

And is boss has been allowed to adorn his office with a poster of the Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara

so yes they are disproportionately targetting Christians

I thought we were supposed to be a tolerant country, I don't see what the problem is here. The person who complained is the one with the problem and is showing intollerance here. Every time I get asian taxi cab firm they have a religious emblem hanging from the rear view mirror. Not all drivers in that firm are Muslims and as a passenger I know the emblem doesn't reflect the company, just the individual using the vehicle at the time. It doesn't bother me at all that people wear crosses, carry St.Christophers etc etc if it brings them closer to their faith.

This country is going mad, no, in fact it's already gone mad!

Maisy but no one HAS complained

cantspel the article mentions a tenant complaining.

Telling everyone that the guy has been breaking the rules for a long time is not helping his case.

Also note that he can have his cross in the office. He just can't display it on the firms van.

The company don't say religious items are banned just personal items. However in my opinion religious items should be banned. Otherwise you must allow KKK symbols on vans or the swastika

Maisy apparently the tenant compained because the man is always trying to preach to people who's houses he works in, goes on and on and on about being "Born Again".

Having a cross on his dashboard is not a necessary part of his religious beliefs. He does not need to have it on display. He is being unreasonable.

Sorry for dreadful spelling and grammar above.

"complained" and "whose"

sorry Maisy i read it in a different paper and the 2 articles say different things as the mail say no one complained and the company have changed their rules so it is unclear.

"And is boss has been allowed to adorn his office with a poster of the Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara "

And he is completely free to do similar with his desk within the company building or to wear religious symbols on his person. "Mr Atkinson has failed to mention that it is permissible for WDH employees, including himself, to display religious artefacts and other personal possessions on their desks and themselves"
Unless you can provide evidence of either a non-christian employee being allowed to display religious symbols in his van in a similar way to the way this man is being disciplined for with his cross, or another example where the company has punished a christian employee for a religious display where they have not punished a non-christian there is nothing to suggest that they are disproportionately targetting Christians.

cantspel you believe what you read in the mail, without checking the facts? Explains a lot!

but unless they also make his boss take down his Che Guevara poster and those of other faiths remove their religious articles then he is being unfairly targetted.

diablo then the article is poorly written because it infers that the tenant complained about the cross, not about being preached to.

Maybe I should complain when I see a copy of the Daily Mail or the Sun on the dashboard of work vans. I find both publications offensive !!!

The Telegraph mentions a tenant complaining and goes on to say why.

"When a man can't display a palm cross in his van in a historically Christian country, it should give people serious pause for thought."

It does. And, having paused, I think this is fantastic news. At last we are ceasing to pander to a group who, having once been a majority, are now very much a minority, as if the fact they believe in God exempts them from having to worry about the views and feelings of others.

Also, where do you draw the line. Do you stop people carrying around their lucky 'rabbits foot' because it can be considered some kind of voodoo magic.