Religious Inclusion in the Workplace: Definition, Benefits & Examples
Because faith plays an integral role in the lives of many, religion is actually an important part of the workplace. This lesson outlines how managers can be appropriately inclusive of religion in the workplace.
A Definition and Example of Religious Inclusion
This brief narrative provides a great definition of religious inclusion. A Catholic hospital in the west recently undertook a new expansion project. The new building has multiple spaces to allow employees to hold true to the tenants of their faith community (and to those who do not identify with a faith community at all.) A few examples of these religiously-oriented physical plant designs include:
An interfaith chapel (officially called a ''Room for Reflection'') is available for all employees 24/7 as a place to find quiet.
Since the hospital is large and the chapel may be occupied, multiple floors have quiet, employee-only rooms to facilitate prayer or reflection.
A robust chaplaincy program is available to employees and patients. The organization employs full-time chaplains who are Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish. There are also several interfaith chaplains who are authorized to perform religious functions for anyone requesting such, regardless of a person's faith identification.
A food service department that creates meals for both patients and staff who are observant of a religiously prescribed diet.
A policy that expressly prohibits taking disciplinary action against an employee refusing a specific task based on a sincere religious belief. This includes allowing employees to decline to participate in functions like abortions, physician-assisted end-of-life actions, blood transfusions, or organ donation.
These bullet items are, in fact, the embodiment of a religiously inclusive workplace environment.
Benefits and Examples of Inclusive Practices
Whether someone is a person of faith or not, there is ample evidence to support that religious diversity in the workplace is a value-adding condition. Let's look at a few benefits that are realized by both employees and the organization when religion is a part of the workplace's culture.
Diversity Increases Performance
It doesn't really matter what kind of diversity we're talking about, all inclusive practices make the workplace better for both employees and customers. A diverse workforce promotes tolerance, increased understanding, and better communication. The more employees benefit from inclusive practices, the better chance there is that customers will also realize a benefit. Multiple viewpoints always make the decision-making process more robust and accurate. As a leader, resist the temptation to assume that the faith group most predominate in your area is the only faith group in your workplace. It probably isn't.
Employee Well-Being and Reduced Turnover
Being inclusive of religion in the private workplace is also a value-adding proposition. If you don't see an obvious connection between religion and private industry, consider a few of these professions where being inclusive of religion might help employees be more inspired and comforted on a daily basis.
Healthcare employee who cope with a close proximity to suffering
Social workers, counselors, and psychologists who spending their days working through difficult human problems
Lawyers, judges, and court staff who spend their days dealing with scenarios that arise from people harming each other in some way
Defense contractors who develop warfare systems that can produce destruction on an unprecedented scale
Teachers who spend their days with students whose home life is tragic as evidenced by things like dirty clothes and sparse lunches
Organizations that help employees see greater purpose enjoy a workforce that is more stable, responsive, and passionate about their role.
by Scott Tuning