Cases of discrimination are, unfortunately, rather common issues that can occur within society. Working places are the most popular areas where discrimination may be revealed. Discrimination concerning gender, age, race, disability, pregnancy or religious beliefs are the most popular varieties of unequal treatment.
In the case of Liza H., who asked the supervisor for providing permanent schedule with weekly changes, although he behaved in an inappropriate way and refused to give weekends from Friday afternoon till the Saturday’s night. The thing that the supervisor used offensive expressions towards his employee proves his unprofessionalism towards workers. Moreover, it violates the rights each person can request during his work. It is a case of direct discrimination that requires unequal treatment due to the person’s religious beliefs (“religion or belief,”). All workers, especially Jewish ones have a right to request days off during such religious practices as Rosh Hashanah, Sabbath, and others. I feel sympathy towards Liza as she did not ask about something too complicated to be performed. I know that such situations do take place in modern society, but I was surprised by the supervisor’s reaction and his attitude towards the woman and her religious beliefs.
The supervisor was not culturally competent in the situation at all. During her working with the staff, she knew about the religious beliefs her employees have and had to be ready for the requirement concerning some days off for the religious practices each Jew has (“Discrimination at work,”). Moreover, Liza did not ask her supervisor to provide some additional weekends or days off within the working week. She was just asked to be free in the time period from Friday’s afternoon till Saturday’s night. The supervisor should have used these changes, as the other days Liza is ready to work according to common schedule. One more inadmissible thing that the supervisor has performed was her offenses that are not allowed to be used at work even in the most stressful situation, and especially towards the employees. The supervisor showed all his uncompetitiveness towards his employee Liza who can make complains in special institutions in order to satisfy her requests in providing the needed weekends. Each employer has to respect his workers` cultural and religious preferences; and in case they do not negatively influence on the quality of performed work, supervisors and managers have to consider them as a reflections of individuality.
References
(n.d.). religion or belief discrimination. Nidirect Governmental Services, Retrieved from http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/employment/discrimination-at-work/religion-or-belief-discrimination.htm
(n.d.). Discrimination at work. Adviceguide, Retrieved from http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/discrimination_e/discrimination_discrimination_at_work_e.htm