Religion in the workplace?

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audio_uphoria

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Hi, I recently had an interview with a small lawn and tree care company. From what I understand the founder of the company is Christian. Around the end of the interview when they were conducting the questions part of the interview one question was, "What are my religious beliefs and how do I feel about religion?" This caught me off guard. Being someone who doesnt believe in any religion and not wanting to lie I told them so. Question is, is it legal/ethical to ask this sort of question when religious beliefs have nothing to do with the job?
 
In my opinion that was an unethical question to ask.
You are not there to worship, you are there to work, why should your beliefs have any effect on you ability to work?
As for whether it's legal or not i have no idea, but for them to ask you that question in a job interview is an absolute joke, and completely useless in determining whether you would be a good employee.
 
Personally, I think religion should never be allowed in the workplace or schools. However, if you are being interviewed at the St. Paul's Elementary school, you can expect they want religious people. If the name of the car wash is the Holy Trinity Car Wash, you can bet it is owned by Christians. But what really irritates me is that these places make profits and get to claim them. Are they tax free? I don't think you can be a religious organization and a place of business at the same time. I think it is definitely a conflict of interests. Stay away from small town religious businesses or trust me, they will be into your personal life.
 
Here in Canada, it is illegal to base hiring on a persons religion, I'm not sure if they can even ask.
 
In America, we are free to be whatever religion we chose, and possibly not one at all. So it would be extremely bias, and very rude to not hire someone because of their religion. Also you should have the freedom to not bring your personal life into the workplace. In fact during such is sometimes distracting to other employees, if religious talk is struck up. Remember what they say... "If you want to get in a fight, bring up Religion, Politics, or Family.
 
over here in UK it is illegal to ask those sorts of q's in an interview, and to refuse to take someone on due to there religious beliefs is even more so.
 
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