Religion in the Federal Workplace

“In government, guidelines for religious expression in the federal workplace issued by the Clinton White House in 1997 opened the door for worship at work. The rules, which were the first of their kind, gave workers lots of leeway for practicing their faith.”

Click here for Denise’s article.

Denise continues:

"Employees should be permitted to engage in religious expression with fellow employees to the same extent that they may engage in comparable nonreligious private expression," the guidelines state. Since they were issued, groups have met for prayer on an informal basis at the General Services Administration, Health and Human Services Department, Office of Personnel Management and other federal agencies.

The guidelines also addressed proselytizing, workplace accommodations and expressions of faith in work areas. Federal employees may wear crosses around their necks, keep the Koran on their desks or hang the Ten Commandments in their cubicles - provided religion does not get in the way of their work or create the impression that the religious expressions are sponsored by the government. Federal workers may even attempt to convert co-workers to their own beliefs, though they must stop when asked.’

This blog has made similar points here and here.