When we visited the Oerlikon unemployment office in January 2011, one of the unemployment adviser's was wearing a head scarf. Hubby has just said that he also saw a lady working at the Kreisbüro in Oerlikon who was also wearing a head scarf.

At least the government departments appear to be setting a good example on this issue.

I think all the nuns in Switzerland wear headscarves to work, so it isn't unusual here.

Last week i saw a lady in our offices (in a bank) who wore a head scarf. I didn't get a good look at her, and I didn't want to stare, so I'm not sure whether she was:
a) a Muslim lady wearing a headscarf
b) a Jewish lady wearing a headscarf
c) a lady wearing a headscarf due to loss of hair from some sort of treatment.

But headscarf it was.

From previous posts, it sounds as though there are a few head-scarved women employed around. I'd echo a previous poster's advice to apply to lots of places.

Kash.

Thank you Nil, I really didnt mean to offend anyone but to know more about it. Im in no way familiar with that religion/lifestyle. If you want to start the thread I will be happy to read. Do you use it?

Thanks in advance
Sarahi

I do not agree that this is a good example.

I could not care less if a women at Coop wears one or not. It's my choice where I shop and if I would feel strongly about it, I could go elsewhere. I don't, but I could. I do however feel quite strongly about the separation of church and state - probably because I believe in the values of the enlightenment and am very critical about religion (starting with the Christian one as I know it best). Your religion is your personal matter and when I am dealing with a representative of the state, I want them to not rub me their personal opinion on religion, politics or anything else in my face. No matter if that is a crucifix, a kippa, a headscarf or a lightsaber...

To OP... I know of several women who wear scarves and work for the JOWA factory (the Migros bakery) and as shop cleaners overnight / early morn (like C&A, H&M, etc). Also I noticed industrial companies that require late night hand crafting hire scarf-wearers (like sewing towels, refilling duvets and pillows, laundering for hotels and such).

I see the trend that these are all non-customer, "in the dark" kind of jobs but perhaps it's a start for your friend.

Jewish ladies don't wear headscarves, but wigs. Or just a bikini....

When is a headscarf a statement of religion, and when is it just what the woman chooses to wear? And how can you tell?

I doubt she's looking for a job in Co-op
well, not just yet

Nora Batty might well have though.

Sorry for going off topic, but this statement is not accurate. Married orthodox jewish ladies are mandated to cover their hair, which, according to what branch/community they belong to, might mean wearing a simple hat or bandanna, wearing a colorful, hip headscarf, wearing a wig over their hair, or even shaving their head completely and wearing a wig.
I have many girlfriends who choose the headscarf because in their view it's a more modern, young and fashionable way to keep the hair covering commandment. I also understand from them that a huge role is played by what the standards of a particular community are -for example, if married women in that particular community all wear wigs, then the newly married will also likely wear a wig, and so forth.
I am neither orthodox, nor jewish, (nor married) though, so I am merely reporting what I have seen/have been told.

I was once waiting in the line at the Strassenverkehrsamet with an orthodox Jew in front of me... he was getting pretty emotional that the government did not accept the photo of his wife with the scarf on for her driving license... I can say that "so what do those Muslims do then?" didn't work either: "They also have to take off the scarf for the photo. The point of the image is identification, so you cannot cover yourself on it."

I know some people who work in Biel and wear headscarves. They work with children - staff in a nursery, helpers at playgroup etc.

I wouldn't mind women working at coop wearing a headscarf but what if they refused to server alcohol? That would be a problem

Why would they do that?

Actually, don't bother answering that. It's off topic and sure to end in a flame war.

What's wrong with headscarves?



Cheers,
Nick

I had to do my passport and was very surprised to see in a document about ID photos that headscarves are allowed (check page 4).

I don't think this has to end in a flame war. I guess Mr Rambo was referring to cases in the US where the radical Muslim Somali cab drivers - which at some airports make an astonishing 75% of all cabs... - refused to transport people with alcohol or even dogs!

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...2827800&page=1

While some will argue that this is off topic it is just the logical continuation of the headscarf question... how far can or should exceptions based on the freedom of religion go?

Well, did you read of that case in Spogmenistan where a taxi driver refused to carry a sheep? Can you believe that? I mean, really!

What is Switzerland coming to?

I don't see that happening anytime soon here in Schwyz. So really a non-issue, pretty much like headscarfs.