An EU company that implements a policy based on sharing according to gender (being the same or otherwise) risks a discrimination action...
Originally Posted by
WillTravel
Are you sure about this?
Many people would be unable to share a room with an opposite-gender person (to whom the person is not married) due to religious reasons.
Well.. risks an action, not sure if they would be successful. To take your example, what if your religion accepted same-sex marriage and prevented you from staying in the same room as a member of the same-sex? Then the policy would discriminate against your religion. (Not the purpose, but its the effect that matters.) The Catholic Church was recently in conflict with the UK government as it says its religious beliefs prevent it from offering adoption services to same-sex couples. The government is holding to the position that it would be discriminatory to allow a service provider to provide services only to heterosexual couples.
Probably some employers will just be defensive and go for a "non-sharing" policy unless staff particularly request/volunteer otherwise.
Originally Posted by
AX9465
that would be extreme and not very wise application of non-descrimination directive. next step would be attempt to desegregate lavatories, as (usually) there is a policy regarding them which is "based on sharing according to gender"
AX
I'm sure all the consequences haven't been thought through - the law is relatively new and no doubt there will be attempts to push the limits.