Religion in the workplace

The UK is not a majority Christian country. Less than half of the population identified as Christian is the last census.

Because "Jean in Accounts is giving up KitKats on her tea break before Easter" is not as significant to the running of an organisation as "Jamal won't be eating or drinking anything at all during the hours of daylight for a month".

No. You should be a decent person, respect other people and actually learn a few FACTUAL basics about other religions, and accept that your own preconceived biases are making you intolerant of others.

Due to the time of year, I assume that you are referring to Ramadan. Surely its common curtesy to understand that if someone is fasting they may have some difficult days, they do need to work effectively, but equally you dont need to be pigheaded about it.

As an atheist, I have no issue with respecting whatever religion someone chooses to follow, and find it interesting to learn about different celebrations/customs.

Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all linked to each other and technically all believe in the same 'God', yet they all teach that other religions are 'false' and not the true 'god'. I was aggressively told "don't pray to Jesus when you get cancer" when i told someone i dont go to church, so Christians can be intolerant too.

Can you elaborate on what this means in practice? People who are not fasting should pick up work from those who aren’t for example?

Just ignore it. Religion is not something that belongs in the workplace. I don’t care what other people believe, but I’m certainly not accommodating eg fasting by changing from my usual pattern of eating and drinking.

The beliefs of Christians that Jesus turned water into wine, and fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish is no more or less absurd than the belief that a man can have a vagina and a cervix. Personally, I'd be putting the latter in an asylum, if we still had them.

What a shame. Whatever has happened, I imagine the same thing could have happened in the case of any sleep-deprived parent with a small child.

Have you taken this up with your HR department?

@IdaGlossop id really love to but it's far to outing

I LOVE hearing about people's faith and culture at work. Wished lots of people happy holi the other day. Love hearing about all the different Jewish holidays. I know Ramadan isn't a holiday, but I think its a beautiful observance. Admire everyone who gave up a luxury for lent. I have no faith myself, but learn so much from people who do. Like my old boss who used to say "I spoke to someone earlier who said they loved you! Do you know who it was? Jesus!" I thought that was a lovely thing to say!

thats true but then id need a shield and it would soon be took down, yes first and foremost each to their own and respect and all that what im puzzled with was if you take jesus and his merry band of people and put them in todays society how long would it be before people would assume they need medical treatment etc so why then do we have so much faith in their stories etc ?

A question that needs its own thread 🙂

why do people trust in religion so much ?

I have never received any such reminder, in a long career.

While I would have welcomed reminders of upcoming significant festivals, so I could provide timely salutations for my colleagues, the patronising guff the OP has received would have been less useful.

'Sky fairy' - I've always found this oh so original put down quite sweet and endearing - it's so at odds with the God Christians actually believe in 😄

Do give us some examples of lack of sleep affecting colleagues.

That will be because the UK is majority Christian so people generally understand its customs, even if they are not practising. No email needed. Muslims on the other hand account for only 6% of the population. The racism towards Muslims that is daily on display in this country makes the case for communications that promote understanding and tolerance.

Religion has no place in the workplace, other than reasonable accommodation under the Equality Act.

@tutugogo that goes two ways to people who don't believe in sky fairies.

It’s pretty normal in a workplace in a culture that is nominally Christian-based to get reminders and explanations of other religious observances. Ramadan, Diwali etc. the vast majority of people will already have an idea of what Easter and Christmas are about, and so the information tends to focus on less widely-known (in this country) religious observances.

I’m very surprised this is the first time it’s happened.

I also agree religion kept out of it.its quite hard when the lack of sleep affects colleges for a month.

I feel asking people to respect a sky fairy should also mention ..please respect the people who don't believe the sky fairy

I agree.

You would hate my work op, we have no chocolate biscuits because it’s Lent. Being considerate and understanding of others is a good thing, you don’t need to have long meaningful conversations about their religion but acknowledging that they fasting and considering that it might not be the appropriate month for a bring and share lunch or office bake sale is what we should do to be friendly and understanding.

Lots of christians abstain through lent no email get sent out about that

The irony is that every Muslim I've ever met - and I've lived near and taught a lot, plus friends - love Christmas.

They're up for the carols and the decs and the markets - all of it.

But a bit of a prayer and a request to be mindful about a Muslim religious period and Christians are supposed to be offended?

Ridiculous.

And don't bother with the 'Christian country' rubbish. We are not a Christian country, we are a majority agnostic country.