It sounds reasonable, but only up to a point, says Ray Silverstein of Browne and Jacobson, the firm that has studied the negative impact of the law on Britain’s businesses. The law defines religion as “any religion, religious belief or similar philosophical belief” that fits such criteria as having “collective worship.” That means the 390,000 Britons who listed “Jedi Knight” as their religion in the 2001 Census might legally claim the release of the next “Star Wars” DVD as a religious holiday. The law may also baffle bosses unfamiliar with obscure beliefs, like the guy in the mailroom who claims he’s a Druid and heads for Stonehenge every summer solstice.
Employers have an incentive to grant requests; should bosses be unrelenting, employees can petition a tribunal to receive damages. The law asks employees to be reasonable about their claims. But try telling that to a grown man dressed like Boba Fett.
