Religion in the workplace

Unless your being told you have to convert it’s hardly being pushed onto you, someone at my work observes it, goes about it quietly and doesn’t talk about it unless we ask questions as we were interested.

Because it’s human decency to be understanding towards your colleagues?

Our corporate policy is now to put every religious holiday they can think of on the calendar. We are advised to avoid scheduling meetings on these days. People should not be pressured to opt out, they should simply be able to take time off without having to explain.

This helps because the big Christian holidays are already offered as days off in the calendar so people do not need to worry about missing a meeting. They do not need to worry about outing or othering themself when they say they can’t make something.

this is the extent of the notifications. I think it is a reasonable balance. Don’t be a jerk and schedule an important meeting on a day someone else is likely to be using annual leave. Simple enough.

we also have quiet rooms with comfy chairs, space on the floor and an indication of direction. They can be used by anyone who needs a quiet moment. Again, no religion is singled out. They aren’t even just for religious purposes. You can use a quiet room to take a moment for yourself. You can do whatever you want as long as you leave the room in good condition for the next user.

I like that my workplace is trying to make sure that we don’t just treat Christianity as the default.

That is not an unreasonable belief

I don't think anyone has to be tolerant of religions - any or all of them.

It makes an assumption that being religious rather than non religious makes you extra special and that people need to treat you in a different way.

Every person is worthy or respect, no matter what their religion or lack of it and no matter whether they keep that private or make it obvious.

I am absolutely against special laws or rules for people because of what they believe.

We must all keep to the same rules in work, in life and in law or we create resentment between us.

I agree, nothing to do with religion. We have to work alongside people all the time who we might not want to interact with for a variety of reasons.

I don't understand 'I'd really rather not know' - well of course, but what has this go to do with the thread? An email telling staff about Ramadan is not going to result in someone saying: "Guess what I married a 14 year old!" This reminds me of when we had the 7/7 bombings in London and the people speaking the most sense were the Islamic community who were the first to condemn the actions and say: "This is not what our religion sanctions - ever!"

Most muslims would baulk at the idea of marrying a 14 year old. Plus it's not legal in this country, so presumably a Nikah. Which is becoming more and more outmoded. I think you're mixing up ideas here.

Ok so your problem is that I assumed the OP belongs to a religion? What a weird thing to take issue with.

I'm all for greater understanding - opening a dialogue and general tolerance between different religious and cultural groups. Having said that, I've volunteered in a variety of different settings working with people from all backgrounds and in all my roles volunteers have pretty much had it drilled into them not to mention any personal faith. In fact, they're told not to even discuss any religious topics at all in case they risk causing offence - which is fine if this is applied consistently.

To be honest though, from my experience, it's discussion of the Christian faith the NHS, civil service, education dept and most charitable organizations get angsty about whereas there seems to be active policies to promote learning and understanding about and between other religious groups.

I think this is probably because Christians are just less likely to kick up any fuss - all the ones I know are extremely woolly and liberal - like me 🤷

Aha, so this is what it's all about then. It's not about religion, it's about certain ones. I assume you believe Muslims are trying to take over the world?

They’re not pushing a religion on to anyone. It’s literally just explaining that some colleagues won’t be eating or drinking anything so don’t ask them to do meetings over lunch, don’t badger them about why they’re not eating your Colin the Caterpillar cake and don’t use the
prayer room to phone your mates in your break. Plus it’s explaining why some colleagues might want to use any flexible working options available to them to make fasting easier.

Do you get this angry when people wish you merry Christmas or arrange a work Christmas do? What about colleagues bringing in a box of Crème Eggs at Easter? Or is it just Islam that makes you crap your knickers in outrage?

Some people would far rather live in blissful ignorance.

Why

I thought that comment was a joke

In what way should people be showing consideration?

"Because at the moment you're just coming across as intolerant of other religions."

what "other" religions? Are you assuming the OP is coming from the POV of one religion? I didnt see that.

Is your workplace open all year round? Does it close for Christmas?

How nice of your employers to do this. It is Ramadan and many people are working whilst fasting, not only from food, but also drinks, including water. It's good to be aware of this isn't it?

but she has to work with a man who she knows married a 14yo child. I would find this very difficult. Nothing to do with his religion but because I'd have to sit next to a paedophile for 40 hours a week. I'd really rather not know.

Of course its his religion that dictates that a grown man can marry a 14yo girl - I would find this distressing and disgusting & I would be very opposed to any religion that promotes or supports this. Would my employer let everyone know my views so they could be sympathetic to me? of course not. The most I could ask for would be a discrete move so I wouldn't have to be around the paedophile.

I don't understand what exactly you're questioning here. Feel free to clarify!

Absolutely they should be encouraging visible support and encouraging meaningful conversations. Tolerance is a wonderful thing. I am sure said employers will show such support to Lent, Good Friday, Yom Kippur, Tisha B’Av, Uposatha, Navratri, Maha Shivaratri, and Paryushana too.

true but then it depends on the company

It seems too short to me...

Meanwhile my DH has a Muslim colleague whose wife is a GP and works full time, although she is currently on maternity leave. They're both devout Muslims and she sees male patients as well as female ones.

Yes!

I've lived in West Sussex, London, Cardiff, Swansea and the Falkland Islands.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but in the same way you've met awful people I have met many lovely people.

I doubt Muslim majority workplaces are sending out emails asking colleagues to be considerate abd thoughtful during lent.