We have an employee who recently began wearing a headscarf to the office. We would prefer for the workplace to remain free of any religious or political attire. Can we ban the employee from wearing her headscarf to work?

As the Irish workforce becomes more diverse, these concerns are becoming increasingly common. It is important that, as an employer, one can find a balance between being sensitive to the country’s increased diversity and the desire to maintain the workplace as a political, philosophical, and religion-neutral environment. If an employer wishes to implement a dress code or ban a particular item of clothing, it must ensure that it is proportionate to the employer’s objective or they may find themselves coming across claims of unlawful discrimination.

In recent weeks, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued two landmark rulings in the area, which have generated a renewed level of discussion