Federal workers are being granted more protections for expressing their religious beliefs in the workplace, under new guidance issued Monday.
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The Trump administration has issued new guidance on religious freedom protections in the federal workplace
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telling all government agencies they must allow federal employees to express their faith openly
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Part of the guidance allows co-workers to discuss faith with one another
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and employees are allowed to discuss why they believe others should rethink their religious beliefs
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as long as it's done so respectfully. The Office of Personnel Management's director, Scott Kapoor, issued a statement along with the new religious freedom guidance
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saying federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career
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This guidance ensures the federal workplace is not just compliant with the law, but welcoming to Americans of all faiths
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Here are a few things permitted under the new order. Employees can keep Bibles, rosary beads, mezuzahs, and other religious keepsakes on their desks
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They can also wear crosses and other religious clothing. Employees can pray during work breaks, either alone or with coworkers
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And they're allowed to invite colleagues to their church. The memo listed a few specific examples of what is allowed such as allowing public employees like a park ranger leading a tour through a national park may join her tour group in prayer
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Or a doctor at the VA hospital may pray over his patient for her recovery
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Federal agencies may broadly restrict posters overall, but cannot single out a ban on religious posters
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When it comes to conversations allowed between co-workers, The memo explains during a break, an employee may engage another in polite discussion of why his faith is correct and why the non-adherent should rethink his religious beliefs
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However, if the non-adherent requests such attempts to stop, the employee should honor the request
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This sort of religious protection in the workplace isn't entirely new. A 1997 policy under President Clinton was worded very similarly
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saying federal employees could discuss religion and share their beliefs, but also had to stop if someone asked them to do so
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