Premium Essay

Religion in the Workplace

In:

Submitted By dantasha
Words 1980
Pages 8
Religion in the Workplace
Dan Walker
May 2, 2013

Religion in the Workplace
As our country expands our workforce and the more markets go global, the workplace is forced to respond to religious differences and requirements in order to establish policy and remain in compliance with workplace harassment and discrimination laws as the workforce includes many more and diverse cultures in the ranks. This country was built on Judeo-Christian dominations and sects, but as the workplace expands, more and more non-Christian cultures are included that have different and more complex requirements. Christian culture dominates the American workplace and business and has since American’s colonial beginnings. Religious groups that enjoyed the highest standing during America's colonial period are still favorably positioned in the religious hierarchy. Studies in the 1990s show that Americans are much more likely to claim affiliation with groups ascendant during the colonial period (Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Quakers, and members of the United Church of Christ) than one would expect based on the representation of these groups in the general population (Davidson, 2003). Muslims have required times of prayer during the day and people of the Jewish faith are required to not work on Saturday to honor the Sabbath (Stern, 2011). Just these two examples have flown directly in the face of much of business schedules and practices in the past, and have required people who hold to these faiths to choose between their job and their religious beliefs. Business did not recognize the benefits of employing different faith paradigms as most business did not have an international component to it other than the occasional supplier of goods. Today, religion has asserted its place in the workplace through anti-discrimination laws and current human resources practices and policies. Business has

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Religion in the Workplace

...Religious Diversification Today Religious diversification in the workplace is an issue employers will always face. Management of this diversity is necessary so that employees can reach their full potential, maximize productivity, and create a positive work environment by which everybody is accommodated. By understanding the positives and negatives of having religion and spirituality in the workplace, it is clear that there are advantages and disadvantages. Positive aspects of integrating religion or spirituality into the workplace may include improved worker performance and better relationships between management and employees. There are disadvantages as well, such as discrimination, and resistance to religious culture, which can reduce productivity and may lead to legal issues. Law and Regulation The most common way a company integrates religious views into their work place would depend if the company were public or privately held. For example, if the CEO of a private organization was Christian there might be rules for allowing extra prayer time at the work. Under federal law, regarding religious expression in private work areas, “Employees should be permitted to engage in private religious expression in personal work areas not regularly open to the public”(Earp, 2008). Publicly held organizations must allow for prayer during the day and if the other employees are atheist or another religion they must be respectful. As long as work is being completed during work hours all...

Words: 2521 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Religion in the Workplace

...Religion in the workplace Religion in the workplace Heather Oarr SOC 120 Professor Dorienne Neptune Heather Oarr SOC 120 Professor Dorienne Neptune Even though some people may think that religion has no place in the workplace, religious exceptions should be allowed in the workplace because in accordance with Relativism it is in our culture to follow the constitutional right of freedom of religion, in accordance with utilitarianism the majority of people have some religious conviction that interferes with work, and in accordance with deontology we have a duty to uphold a persons constitutional right to freedom of religion. As the workplaces is continuing to become a more diverse place, religion is becoming a major workplace issue.  Employees of diverse religious backgrounds may request accommodations to practice their own daily religious activities or to follow their own religious beliefs.  Under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers must allow reasonable accommodations for religious requests that are based specifically on employees' sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless is so doing it would impose an particularly undue hardship on the business and its operations.  In addition, employers must make sure that their employees are not harassed or discriminated against on the basis of religion (Levy, 1). Freedom of religion takes many forms in the workplace. For example: Sikhs may feel a religious obligation to wear a turban at work. Male...

Words: 684 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Religion in the Workplace

...Responsibility April 7, 2013 Week 3 Assignment Rough Draft Religion in the Workplace When one begins to talk about religion, everyone tends to be quite. Religion has and will always be a controversial subject to address. In society today with so many different religions available to practice one should not be attacked or treated differently for their religious beliefs when they enter the workforce. Under the First Amendment, Americans enjoy two freedoms with respect to religion: the right to be free from government-imposed religion and a right to practice any religion they choose to. Religion is a matter or belief and practice, and religious beliefs will rarely affect the duties of job employment. State and federal laws require that employees not be treated on the bias of religion. In deontology, the golden rule is to treat others as you would have the treat you. I know that if I respected someone’s beliefs to be atheist, I expect them to have the same respect for me and my belief in God or whatever religion I choose to place my faith in. Deontologist insist that actions should not be evaluated on the basis of the action’s consequences. The main thing about religion in the workplace is the fact that anyone can find something wrong in it. After all the different things that our nation has been through in the last few years, instead of find things wrong in the workplace we should look for a common bond to link us together...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Religion in the Workplace

...Teaching and Learning Issues with a Cognitive Context Vansago Holt ESE 370: Dr Andrea Felch September 28, 2014 Ashford University Teaching and learning Issues It is clearly documented that when it comes to learning the brain plays the most important role. Yes there are other important factors to consider also but they all lead back to the brain. “The brain has been compared to a telephone switchboard” (Jensen, 2008, pg 2), this just goes to show that every action performed is linked to the brain. If every action has something to do with the brain then it is safe to say that every malfunction also is connected to the brain. This malfunction may be anything from a chemical imbalance to the environment that we live in. Considering that there are so many factors that play a role in how our brain works numerous studies have been done to try to provide a balance to enable learning to take place. From these studies strategies can be put in place to aid or assist those with issues that would prevent or not enable them to be successful learners. Two groups that I will try to cover are those that come from a background of poverty, homelessness, hunger and those with autism/ADHD. The grade level that I will focus on is K-5. Reason is to me this is the best time to stat helping by using strategies and teaching coping skills. Poverty, Homelessness and Hunger Sad as it may seem with all the help out there poverty, homelessness and hunger is still a major cause for concern...

Words: 2481 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Diversity Religion and the Workplace

...Diversity: Religion and Workplace Introduction Religion is one of the biggest differences segmenting the world into different parts. There is no other reason from the dawn of time which caused more strife’s and argument among mankind than Religion. Religion can be defined as the faith or moral belief a person possess regarding the nature of being or existing the world. In the modern world there are roughly five or six major religious and yet countless other minor religions have sprung up and are continuing to spring up every day. Each believer of a religion defends and believes in it devoutly, to such an extent that he or she is willing to go towards bloodshed to defend its honor. The major religions of the world include, Islamic, Christianity, Hinduism, Atheism, Judaism, etc. These religions include the set of guidelines for the individuals on which to base their lives. The major religions all dictate that there is a Higher Entity, or God which governs the world and the Universe and all that is contains is it plaything and all the living creatures are its subjects (Trent, 2007). Such devout belief and intolerance against one’s faith becomes a very volatile subject and can become the cause of a major strike in an organization. Any good and reputed organization employees a variety of people all belonging to different backgrounds. Some of these religions might be major while some might be the minor ones. In such a scenario, the minority religion often suffers under...

Words: 4456 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

Workplace Diversity & Religion

...require reasonable accommodation. This accommodation extends to the religious beliefs or practices of employees or applicants, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship on the employer. Title VII protections include discrimination against and individual that is affiliated with the employee (ie. Marriage Mate). Employee’s cannot be forced to participate in religious activities as a condition of employment. What is Religious Accommodation “Religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment which will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. The need for religious accommodation may arise where an individual’s religious beliefs, observances or practices conflict with a specific task or requirement of the position or an application process. Such requests often relate to work schedules, dress and grooming, or religious expression in the workplace.” http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/crc/2011-religious-discrimination-and-accommodation.htm to increase 6.2% which would cause a shift in the gender majority in the workforce. While this number is a major improvement, only 3.6% of Fortune 500 Company CEO’s are women, meaning that the men are disproportionately leading companies at 96.4% in comparison with women. (https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/report/2012/07/12/11938/the-state-of-diversity-in-todays-workforce/ ). Herein lies the problem, diversity is a key driver of a successful company. If the Management of most...

Words: 841 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Religion in the Workplace: an Ethical Evaluation

...This document has been...

Words: 2616 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Culture and Religion

...Culture and Religion: An in Depth Analysis Culture and Religion: An in Depth Analysis “Religion is one element of a culture, a transcendent element of it." Francis Arinze The Influence of Religion One of the most pervasive influences in how people in various cultures and sub-cultures develop identity and purpose is through their faith and religion. One’s religious traditions - like family, tribe, or nation - anchors them to the world. Religious traditions provide structure, discipline, and social participation in a community (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel & Roy, 2013). Religion, also sanctions a wide range of human conduct by providing notions of right and wrong, setting precedents for accepting behavior, and transforming the burden of decision making from individuals to the supernatural power (Samovar et al., 2013). As such, religion responds to the basic human need to understand the purpose of life. This paper will examine five major religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism along with each of their core values and assumptions. It will examine the impact religion plays in cultures as well as the overall impact religion has on globalization in the 21st century. Through a personal reflection on religious diversity in the workplace along with an overview of the Society of Human Resources best practices to handle such diversity, it will provide recommendations on how to develop a cohesive culture that values diversity and aligns the tenets...

Words: 2712 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Public Services - Diversity Issues

...someone for a job based on their gender, race, and religion and if they have disability they should still get a fair chance of getting the job. This is important within the public services because they have to represent communities. This means they have to be fair and hire people from different genders and races. Most people will not be bothered about the gender and race but be more interested in being helped. When hiring people you have to be fair to everyone so the workplace needs to be accessible for everyone. So if someone is physically disabled then lifts might be installed to help them. This also applies for religions. This is because some religions they are required to pray at certain times or not able to work with specific such as beef. This is where staff unions and associations and federations can help. They can help fund things that will help people in the workplace such as lifts and prayer rooms. They also help workplaces respect peoples beliefs and religions. But this can be a big problem in the public services as they may not be able to rescue people because it is against their religion and the public services must respect their decision. Equal Opportunities and Anti-discrimination Policies The policy is all about making sure everyone is treated equally and make sure there is no discrimination within the workplace. It also means someone shouldn’t get the job or promotion based on their gender, race or religion. Advantages * Everyone gets a fair chance of...

Words: 866 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diversity in the Workplace

...Diversity in the Workplace Religion in the workplace is often a matter many employers and employees are hesitant to discuss. This may be because religion is usually segregated by race or ethnicity, another sensitive subject in the workplace. Good employers know the value of workplace diversity and know the pros and cons and can identify and compromise with their employees about how to effectively work with the diversity to provide a comfortable working environment. Catholic Christians tend to be Hispanic or Caucasian, while Baptist Christians are more often African-American. Muslims or followers of the Islamic faith are usually either of Arabic descent or African American. Some of the most persecuted faiths or non-faiths in the workplace are Muslims, Sikhs, and Jews. The majority of employees in America are Christians or claim to be of the Christian faith. So any diverse religions in the workplace can be a little different for them. Muslims before 9/11 were already religiously persecuted simply because of the rituals and practices performed on a day-to-day basis. Devout Muslims pray five times a day towards the east, the direction of Mecca whether in work, school, or restaurants. In some branches of the religion women are required to cover their hair or even cover their entire faces. They may not be able to wear pants or shorts. Post 9/11, Muslims were almost pariahs, particularly during the first few years following the plane hijackings. It was near impossible for practicing...

Words: 326 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Business

...{DRAFT} YAZRUL FARHANA WILLIE PRINCES SITTI HAIDA DISCRIMINATION AT WORKPLACE IN MALAYSIA INTRODUCTION Discrimination against minorities at workplace in Malaysia Malaysia is a country with people raging from different racial and ethnic groups. That has what led Malaysia into one of a country that is unique compared to other countries around the world. However, the diversity of races in Malaysia can lead to discrimination. There are many issues about discrimination have been expressed, and most of these issues are very serious and should not be ignored. For our coursework, we select three news articles based on the issue of discrimination that occurred in Malaysia. The three selected articles were about the discrimination against gender, and race which is very common issues in Malaysia due to the multiracial community and the increasing population of women not just in Malaysia, but all over the world. Discrimination against race is a very significant issues occurred in Malaysia. Even more in the context of employment. Based on the Job seekers in Malaysia experience discrimination, by L.Suganya, The Jakarta Post, in the year 2013, there is an issue from a Facebook users claims that she could not get a temporary job as a sales person in a retail outlet because she wears a hijab (long headscarf) or tudung (short headscarf), created a debate with other users. This issue became viral in social media as it involving the racial issues. Based on this story, the...

Words: 3080 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Discrimination in the Workplace

...Discrimination in the Workplace Joshua Najar Alejandro Komiyama Liria Nilzandra *out of country* Texas Tech University Sociology 1301, Section 004 November 7, 2015 The United States likes to believe that everyone living in it is equal to one another. Unfortunately, even in today’s world discrimination is still prevalent in our society. James Henslin, author of the book “Essentials of Sociology” defines discrimination as “an act of unfair treatment directed against an individual or a group” (G-2). One specific place in our society that still has discrimination is the workplace. A workplace can be described as “a place where people work, such as an office or factory” (Dictionary.com 2015). A company’s workplace can discriminate against a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, age, and religion. These discriminations will affect the person’s salary, work conditions, and determine if they get hired or not. Throughout time the United States has made several laws to protect certain groups against discrimination in the workplace. These laws have tremendously helped those groups however, they are still illegally discriminated against. There are numerous ways to analyze why there is discrimination in the workplace but we will be using the three sociologic perspectives. The three sociologic perspectives that we will use to analyze this topic will be the Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interaction. The Structural Functionalist Analysis will focus on how discrimination...

Words: 1666 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Religious Accommodation Research Paper

...Almost 50% of countries around the world saw increases in religious discrimination between 2009 and 2010, while only 32% saw decreases (Rising Tide of Restriction on Religion). Religious discrimination has always been one of the biggest complaints from the religious community, in fact, most religious people believe they have been a victim of religious discrimination in some way, shape or form. Because religious people have constantly felt used and belittled, Religious Accommodation laws started to come about, the main goal of these laws were to help stop the discrimination. While Religious Accommodation is a large issue filled with debate, there are other issues that branch off of it that tend to be more controversial themselves and those issues...

Words: 1912 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Workplace Spirituality

...Spirituality in the Workplace ABSTRACT In this paper I will attempt to study and understand the need for spirituality in the workplace. Workplace Spirituality is awareness, interconnectedness with one another and a higher existence, a sense of fulfilment, and value and meaning to one’s calling. Spirituality in organizations is an area gaining increasing popularity. The growing interest, however, is on how spirituality improves organizational performance, and the impact of spiritual influences in a workplace. Introduction: In today society’s organizations want their employees to be able to come to work and manage their emotions while working with coworkers and customers. However, employees are constantly under stress which may reduce the effectiveness of his or her work ethics. Workplace spirituality is the method of incorporating one’s personal idea of “spirituality” in their daily work schedule. Spirituality can give employees a sense of balance and security and therefore improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. With spiritualty now incorporating itself in to the workplace it is helping the organization enhance its performance and increase the development of business ethics. The importance of a business to incorporate spirituality within the workplace will continue to influence the culture of business in the anticipated future. What is Spirituality? Webster’s College Dictionary defines spirituality as the quality or “state of being...

Words: 1481 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Business Ethics and Religion

...understand the core values that make up the business. If they do not know them employees may unknowingly be practicing unethical behaviors that the company may not tolerate (2007, Nov 9). One out of every three major corporations offers some kind of ethical training which helps their employees to work through difficult situations. For example these programs will help employees to better understand and handle situations when they are confronted with a situation involving unethical behavior being exhibited by another employee. If companies do not have any of these programs they can expect unethical decisions to be made by their employees (White). In recent years companies like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Wal-Mart have hired chaplains of many religions to work for the company. Members of the God Squad as they are called will visit employees in the hospital, respond to personal problems, and help employees to cope with every day struggles. Business Ethics 3 Today top executives are incorporating mysticism with their management, and many corporations have...

Words: 1302 - Pages: 6