Moussa is a cook in a private restaurant. He wears a cross around his neck, for his religion. For hygiene reasons, his employer asks him to take it off in the kitchen. Does the employer have the right to do this?

On exam day, in French

Moussa est cuisinier dans un restaurant privé. Il porte au cou une croix, pour sa religion. Pour des raisons d’hygiène, son employeur lui demande de l’enlever en cuisine. L’employeur a-t-il le droit ?

• AOui, car tout signe religieux est interdit au travail.Yes, because all religious symbols are banned at work.
• BNon, un salarié peut toujours porter un signe religieux.No, an employee can always wear a religious symbol.
• CNon, cette limite vaut seulement pour les agents publics.No, this limit only applies to public servants.
• DOui, il peut limiter ce signe pour une raison d’hygiène.Yes, he can limit this symbol for a hygiene reason.Correct answer

Explanation

Why the other answers are wrong

• A. Yes, because all religious symbols are banned at work. — An employee of a private company can, in principle, wear symbols that show their religion. Here, the limit comes from a hygiene issue.
• B. No, an employee can always wear a religious symbol. — This right has limits: the employer can limit the freedom to show one's religion, for example for hygiene or safety reasons.
• C. No, this limit only applies to public servants. — The employer of a private company can also impose limits, for example for hygiene or safety reasons.

Principle at stake: An employee's freedom of religion and its limits — Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789

French words to remember

• signe religieuxreligious symbol
• employeuremployer
• salariéemployee
• hygiènehygiene