BCLP's religious leave policy is "illegal", a source has told RollOnFriday.

Apparently the firm recently commissioned Herbert Smith Freehills to produce a written legal opinion on the firm's religious leave policy. It is not clear whether the instruction was triggered by the recent BLP merger with Bryan Cave, a complaint from an employee or something else.  

According to an insider, the opinion rather startlingly confirmed that BCLP's current religious leave policy is "illegal" and that "all staff are entitled to compensation". And that if BCLP was to change the policy, that "would also be illegal".

darth

 

Neither the policy nor HSF's opinion has been disclosed (ping us a copy, BCLPers). A source told RollOnFriday that the issue wasn't that one religious group was given more rights to take time off for religious festivals than another, and that the scope for religious leave was open to all faiths.

The firm was tight-lipped. A spokesman said, “The firm has a Religious Leave Policy, as part of its wider diversity and inclusivity initiatives. As with all such policies, it is subject to periodic review”. 

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Comments

Anonymous 21 December 18 11:56

Of course, he could self identify as a Jedi.  It wouldn't work in the event of a UK census, however it may well sway BCLP.  

Lydia 21 December 18 15:27

It was probably better before there were specific policies. Eg I used to work with a lady who left before it was dark on Fridays for Jewish religious reasons. She was very good and hard working at other times and no one minded at all although I suppose it was a bit unfair as I wouldn't have minded to leave early one day a week.

Anakin 07 January 19 10:51

Darth Vader is redeemed by turning on Emperor Palpatine and saving Luke at the end of Return of the Jedi (and is the eponymous returning jedi) therefore he is indeed a Jedi.  

Jaja 07 January 19 11:26

"Darth Vader is redeemed by turning on Emperor Palpatine and saving Luke at the end of Return of the Jedi (and is the eponymous returning jedi) therefore he is indeed a Jedi."

The picture suggests he did not sacrifice himself and become a Jedi in death, but pulled an Elvis and now works at BCLP - in which case, he is not a Jedi.

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