U.S. Workers’ Religion Rules to Be Eased

President Clinton today will order all federal agencies to adopt new guidelines designed to guarantee employees the right to express religious views at work, including wearing religious jewelry or discussing their faith with co-workers.

Clinton was expected to announce the guidelines at a White House ceremony attended by some of the religious leaders who drafted the eight-page document.

“It’s a fairly comprehensive catalog of instances . . . likely to arise,” said Marc Stern, co-director of the American Jewish Congress’ legal department. Stern also helped write the guidelines.

The National Council of Churches, the Center for Law and Religious Freedom and People for the American Way also had a hand in writing the rules.

The rules deal with such issues as accommodating employees’ religious observances, discrimination, religious discussions and religious expression, said Stern.

For example, an employee could keep a Bible on a desk or wear items linked to their religion. Workers could also discuss their faith if the co-worker they’re talking with does not object.

The rules also reiterate the principle behind Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which says that employers must accommodate a worker’s religious practices unless it would impose undue hardship on the employer.

The new guidelines do, however, prevent federal workers from using their official positions to campaign for or against religion.