New guidelines, endorsed by President Donald Trump, permit US federal employees to openly promote their personal religious beliefs in the workplace. This includes displaying religious symbols and forming prayer groups.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the US government's human resource agency, issued this memo on July 28. It outlines extensive protections aimed at strengthening "religious freedom" across the entire federal workforce.
According to OPM director Scott Kupor, agency employees are now allowed to "persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views" while at the office. This signifies a significant shift in workplace policy.
Supervisors can even invite employees to join their religion, provided these efforts aren't "harassing in nature." However, employees cannot be disciplined for declining to discuss their religious views.
The memo clarifies that an employee can politely discuss their faith during a break, even if it involves explaining why their faith is "correct." Yet, they must respect requests to stop such discussions.
Furthermore, employees can invite colleagues to worship at their church, even if they belong to a different faith. These guidelines aim to foster an environment where religious expression is more openly accepted among federal staff.
Source: https://trt.global/world/article/b0995e2850ed