Is the word 'help' a protected characteristic as part of my religion?

[NotSmiling]

Ive been brought up as a Catholic, always taught to help others and to offer help in particular to ask if someone needs help if i see them struggling. I work for a company who have a policy where staff are openly penalized in a reported for all to see if they use the word 'help' to a customer. You can ask a customer if they need assistance but not allowed to ask if they need 'help'. As the word 'help' is how I was taught throughout my school life, and is engrained in me as part of my religion, is the work policy breaching a protected right of my religion?

[atticus]

Why can you not use the synonym 'assist'?

[dslippy]

Very doubtful. You would have a lot of persuading to do to be taken seriously enough.

[atticus]

NB just as I cannot see why you have a problem with using the word 'assist', I cannot see why your employer has a problem with the word 'help'. It is a stupid rule, but given that it is there and you are powerless to change it, it costs you nothing to comply.

[NotSmiling]

Why can you not use the synonym 'assist'?

i can

[NotSmiling]

NB just as I cannot see why you have a problem with using the word 'assist', I cannot see why your employer has a problem with the word 'help'. It is a stupid rule, but given that it is there and you are powerless to change it, it costs you nothing to comply.

never said i had a problem using the word assist, but you try changing instantly something you do automatically because youve done all your life.

[dslippy]

Discrimination law often stops people doing things they have done all their lives, even though this is a little different

[atticus]

Your last 2 posts show that this is not a question of discrimination.

[islandgirl]

You are able to offer help just not use a specific word. How can this be discrimination? You are allowed to do what you say you have been brought up to do so no issues at all in my view. If you do not like the policy of not using a specific word my advice would be to find a job which allows you to say a word which you feel is important to you. I remember being taught in a sales course before a major international exhibition not to say "can I help you" which usually brings "no thanks just browsing" but to engage with a potential customer in other ways. It is probably about bringing more business to the company rather than not allowing you to use a specific word.