Should she be allowed to wear the cross?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/128816/NHS-nurse-faces-the-sack-for-wearing-her-crucifix

An health and safety issue or just another example of her employers being frightened in case the cross offends anyone?

If the answer is the former, then why has it been perfectly safe for her to wear it for the past 31 years?

Why is it not dangerous for her to wear the watch that is pinned on her tunic, or the pens that are jutting out of her pocket?

[Sqad]

cathy....I cannot give you figures for "employee, injured by grabbed necklace" nor can I say how many that I have heard of, but it is not that uncommon.....so I have heard.

[andy-hughes]

the argument that wearing a crucifix equates to wearing a scarf for a Muslim woman is utterly erronious.

For Muslims, their faith is bound up in the daily lives in a way which Christian faith is not - a scarf is an obligatory part of daily dress for a Muslim woman, a cricifix is not, it is merely a symbol, but not required display by the Christian church.

Again, wedding rings are customary, but not compulsary, and if my employer found an H & S issue that made wearing one a risk, I would take mine off in works time.

If the hospital chooses to exercise its health and safety policy, then as an employer, it is entitled so to do. Regulations change constantly in all public services, and the length of time when a regulation has not been in place, or enforced, is really not relavent in this argument.

I believe this lady is making an unecessary issue here. Of course her faith is important to her - but is it vital that she advertises her faith to everyone in this way? I sugggest that she may wish to demonstrate her faith with a religious symbol, but if that conflicts with her employers' rules, then she sould remove it during working hours.

I think she is on very dodgy legal ground trying to take legal action over a symbol which is just that - a symbol, and which has no neceseity in legal terms to be worn and displayed as part of her duties in the hospital.

[anotheoldgit]

VHG

It is a safety thing, just in case the chain gets caught in any hospital machines.

Blimey it would appear they have some very dangerous machines in hospitals these days, what type of revolving machines are you talking about?

It would be the same for any neckalce, the fact it has a cross on it is irrelivant.

----------------------------------NECKLACE-----------------------------------IRRELEVANT (Don't be so silly)

Are Doctors and Consultants also banned from wearing neck-ties also?

[daffy654]

Actually AOG doctors in many hospitals are now banned from wearing ties due to hygiene issues.

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Doctors-ditch-ties-to-stop-spread-of-infection-newsinkent15241.aspx?news=local

[andy-hughes]

I am an aetheist, so can't speak with authority - but I believe the instruction is against 'false idols', which obviously does not include crosses and crucifixes.

[caththecrazy]

But many hopsitals are allowing their staff to wear their crosses.

In the interest of health and safety I can't understand why people who work with mentally disabled adults and children aren't also banned from wearing them.

The rules are fairly new and she is claiming it is against her human rights - we'll see the outcome - her lawyer is one of the best human rights lawyers.

Jason - actually she isn't on benefits and she isn't likely to be either.

I'd know I'd rather have someone who has so many years nursing experience looking after me with a cross than some of the agency staff employed by some hospitals.

[TCL-MUMPING]

She may not be on benefit at the moment but if she is dismissed and claims Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), the JSA could be suspended for up to twenty-six weeks or the length of time between dismissal and what would have been her retirement, whichever is the shorter.