Religion in the workplace

[Whatothink]

For the last month we have been sent messages email, background screens and management briefings for a particular religion.

the following messages to

”showing visible support,
encouraging meaningful conversations, and deepening our understanding of the experiences of those of observences”

as well as being told to be considered with meetings etc and thoughtful and supportive!!!

I don’t think anyone would suggest that they are equal in degree. It’s just a matter of not saying or doing things that might make someone else’s life harder than it needs to be, particularly when it makes absolutely no difference to us.

Just say you don't like brown people.

I'm a practicing Catholic, and you could work beside me for years and not know, but you know when you meet a Muslim because their religion is everything - from how they dress, what and when they eat, who they socialise with and where. Their religion is all encompassing, compared to mine. It's interesting that on this thread there are atheists that are so much more defensive of Islam - the strictest, most religious religion, than Christianity. It's curious, as is the appeal to liberal politicians, to me it appears a strange juxtaposition.

It would be hyperbolic to an offensive degree to compare the death of a loved one to someone choosing to eat between certain hours.

Someone on a fasting 16/8 eating plan would be a more apt comparison. Where people fast for 16 hours, and eat during an 8 hour window. I don’t think I would feel compelled to behave differently around someone who has adjusted their eating habits temporarily. Whether for their spiritual belief purposes or to lose weight. That would have their personal choices impact my life, which is not very respectful or sensitive to me. Obviously, I wouldn’t go out of my way to ‘tempt’ them. But I certainly wouldn’t curtail my own practices.

Can you tell me about any required Christian practice that could any level of accommodation in the workplace? I mean, you already get your major holidays and weekly holy day off in most cases…

Would it really hurt you to be considerate to colleagues who are religious?

They're not asking you to convert or even show an interest, just be be mindful during a period which is important to a lot of other people. Is it really to much to ask.

How about going to mass every morning?

"please don't talk in a homophobic way as we have colleagues who are homosexual"

Work colleagues are already under an obligation not to speak in an Islamophobic way. Therefore a fairer comparison here would be to ask Muslim colleagues and others to 'encourage meaningful conversations' with their homosexual colleagues to 'deepen their understanding' of life as a homosexual, 'showing visible support'.

I wonder if you would be so annoyed OP if the communications were about Christian or Jewish festivals and faith...

Nobody is asking you to convert or pray are they?

Do your Muslim or non religious colleagues object when people are talking about Christmas or Easter at work?

I am not religious at all. I have worked mainly in the third sector and it was very common to acknowledge all kind of religious festivals including pagan ones :). Never bothered me.

Muslim colleagues who fast might need a bit of understanding as well. There is no way I could work without eating/drinking water during the day and perform as usual! The charities I worked for always made sure there was a room available for prayers.Living in diverse London, it seemed normal to me and just basic courtesy.

Go to Mass every morning-or even every day- is not a requirement. And anyway, most Catholic churches say an early Mass.

Going to mass every morning isn't a requirement, I agree. I have met plenty of people who do go to early morning mass. I also dealt with Muslim customers who gave me umpteen reasons why they had to do something as part of their religion. Often their requirements weren't obligatory, but more custom. And it would have been impossible to accommodate that request.
One was customers saying they walked to mosque every day, so had to live within a certain area. Great! Only there was no social housing in that area. And wanting larger properties to accommodate a man and his 2 wives. And children.
It's fine saying the rest of us should be accommodating in the matter of people fasting, but I have found it then becomes a matter of pressing for allowances which are neither practical or available. Some people see one kindness, one thoughtful act as being the entry to wanting it all their way.

You know, so you don't forget and waltz into the office with free cakes for everyone and start wafting a viccy sponge under people's noses?

How do practising Muslims avoid food during daylight hours if they work in a restaurant or supermarket? Food is 'wafting' under their noses all day. In addition, are they permitted to prepare and cook food at home during fasting hours (to eat later in the day)?

Regarding no cakes or treats in the office, this would seem very unfair to colleagues who wish to celebrate their birthday, particularly for people who live alone who may be socially isolated outside of work.

Tories are obsessed with birthday cake, aren’t they? If anyone has a birthday that would be ruined by not encouraging their colleagues to stuff themselves with sugar at work, they could be subtle and tactful about it.

Interestingly, the not eating or drinking during the day type of fasting predates Islam. Apparently the early Christian church practiced a ‘Black Fast’. This seems similar to what the Orthodox African churches do today. It was/is harsher than Ramadan. Only a vegan meal allowed.

So, it is not just Muslims, as some contemporary Christians do indeed practice a very harsh lent. Whilst I think it must be very difficult to have no filling dairy or meat/fish to sustain you (not even an egg) for 55 days, I again wouldn’t change my own behaviour.

Are you being told not to eat or drink in front of Muslim colleagues who are fasting? If so, then IMO that is unreasonable, and from experience of living for many years in Muslim countries, I think many Muslims would agree.

Why do you have to stuff yourself? Sorry, but I think it's particularly unfair for people who live alone, who may otherwise be socially isolated, to be subtle and tactful about their birthday, when their Muslim colleague is likely looking forward to a meal or celebration later that evening with family and friends.

Would you and your colleagues and employer do the same for someone who chose to follow a One Meal A Day way of eating for heath benefits? Meaning they eat once when they get home from work.

Would you avoid eating in front of them henceforth? And do you think your employer should make special accommodations for them?

Lots of people choose to eat this way these days.

There is a difference between a religious requirement and a dietary choice. As you well know. Faux naïveté used to mask racism is deeply tedious.
Incidentally, I have already said I would avoid discussing and eating my delicious cream bun in front of somebody on a diet regardless of their religious affiliations.

I don't think any Muslim fasti g would bat an eyelid if you scoffed your face all day in front of them.
It is about their own discipline.

The message seems to wind @Whatothink up more than it benefits those observing Ramadan.

Office birthday cakes are Tory - OMG 🤣🤣🤣

It’s fine if the same is done for all religions.

so its not about being kind and understanding to someone who isn't eating all day that matters, its supporting other people in the religious observances they have chosen to follow.

These personel choices should not require being propped up and supported by others who dont share the religion or who are not religious at all. Isnt it the case that the intention/purpose of ramadam fasting is to teach self discipline, sacrifice & empathy for the less fortunate?

Its not racist to not be religious and to not want to engage with other peoples religion, especially in the workplace.

I take it you work Christmas day and are raring to get in over the Easter bank holidays.

Yesterday at a team meeting my colleague gave a talk about Ramadan. I was interested because I like and respect that person. It's that simple

Would you not be interested if you disliked and had no respect for the colleague?

Why are people saying it is thoughtless to have birthday treats and the like? You can just put a slice of cake (or whatever treat) aside and your Muslim colleagues can take it home to enjoy after sundown.