French Firms See More Rel. Demands at Work; Employees Want to Pray,Wear Rel. Garb on Job

Findings from a new study released today (May 28, 2013) show that close to half the staff managers at companies in French urban areas have seen problems arising from religious demands by employees -- and expect them to increase in the future -- the Yahoo News website reports. The study said 43 percent of staff managers saw faith-related work problems and 41 percent expected to encounter more in the future.

Listing faith-related problems, the study said some men refused to take orders from a woman boss or shake hands with women, and some refused to handle alcohol or pork products.

Other problems include employees wanting to pray or wear religious garb at work. Moreover, some employees try to impose their religious standards on colleagues, such as preventing non-observant Muslims from eating at work during Ramadan.

The survey -- conducted by university researchers in Rennes and the international recruitment agency Randstad -- was released as French lawmakers prepare new legislation extending strict public service bans on religious garb at work to some private firms.