Can I wear my turban in the workplace?

Can I wear my turban in the workplace?

 

  • The right of Sikhs to wear religious headgear, the turban, is protected under human rights legislation, subject to the tests for bona fide occupational requirements and the undue hardship standard.
  • Employers are to accommodate and individual assess health and safety risks against the undue hardship standard where an employee is requesting an exemption from a hard-hat requirement to wear a Turban.
  • Employers must avoid attempts to restrict the wearing of religious headgear based on uniform requirements or concerns about image or customer preference
  • Hard hat requirements may be bona fide occupational requirements however every attempt must be made to ensure that accommodation is provided- whether that means an alternative work placement or an exemption where the risk is de minimus and borne exclusively by the Sikh requesting accommodation.