Issues of Faith and Religion in the Workplace

When it comes to religion and spirituality in the workplace, where is the line drawn and what is the appropriate level of discourse? Bill Maher’s upcoming documentary, Religulous, deals with the issue of faith, the tenets of established religions, and individual belief systems. While reviews have been mixed, it has sparked a broader discussion of faith in the mainstream media.

Can there be a place for faith at work? Carole Kanchier, author of Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life, believes there is, arguing the benefits of spirituality as they relate to health and relationships in the workplace. In a recent article in The Ottawa Citizen, she explains that spiritual people “have a number of personality traits that help them relate to people and succeed at work.” She also stresses the importance of understanding the limits of religious discussion in the office.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently examined workplace discrimination as evidenced by complaints to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this past year. Elaina Smiley of the law firm Meyer Unkovic & Scott emphasizes religious accommodation, such as training managers and supervisors on how to best handle religious concerns in an office environment.

According to Zaki Cooper of the Times Online, diversity of faith continues to grow in the UK as a result of mass migration. He believes businesses must respond sensibly to practical issues of religion. Cooper also acknowledges companies who have taken corporate responsibility and ethics into account, tying the movement to faith groups that “promote good business practice and responsible wealth creation.”

Photo by Lo van den Berg.