1. How should management accommodate a variety of conflicting spiritual perspectives in the workplace? An employer is required by law to reasonably accommodate a religious request unless the request presents undue hardship on the business. The trick is to make sure that the organization allows for each religious request on an equal basis.
A good example of working to avoid the tensions and conflicts that might arise by mixing religion and work is the Ford Interfaith Network (FIN) which operates within Ford Motor Company. The Interfaith Network has a representative from each religion on the network’s executive committee. Questions about another member’s faith is asked and answered through formal channels developed by the Interfaith
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4. What risks might an organizational encounter when encouraging the expression of spiritual values in the workplace? What are its advantages?
Tom’s of Maine might have risks involving the lack of understanding between employees and the company’s vision. However to avoid the Chappell’s believe that “there is a difference between requiring a workforce to embrace one’s religious beliefs and empowering all employees through a spiritual framework.” (p. 179)
One advantage would be the Chappell’s setting the example. They are committed to donating 10% of the company’s pre-tax profits to nonprofit organizations. By giving back to their community (county, state, nation and world) they are a shining example of what they would like their employees to do. They also encourage their employees to do this by providing a “generous benefit package, including four weeks of parental leave for both mothers and fathers, as well as offers flexible work schedules, job sharing, and work-at-home programs. Child-care and elder-care referral service is provided, and child care is partially reimbursed for employees earning less than $32,500 annually.” (p. 178)
References
Canas, K., & Harris , S. (2014). Opportunities and challenges of workplace diversity : theory, cases and exercises. (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson Education,
The definition of religion can be subjective and vary from person to person. According to Gregory (2011), as a society, more and more employees are wishing to demonstrate their faith while at work. He further notes that this will continue as individualism and self-expression are more embraced by todays millennials. In addition, Gregory shows that the filing of discrimination based lawsuits rose 75% between 1997 and 2008. Because of this, Cintas Corporation must create a fair policy that meets the legal obligations of the company.
The Faith Community Hospital services a diverse number of patients with different backgrounds and religious beliefs. The mission statement indicates that the hospital is committed to the spiritual heritage and values of its patients. The staff's misunderstanding of the mission statement at Faith Community Hospital pose a problem for management and its patients. The company's mission statement is the description of why the company exists. The mission statement also communicates the company's purpose to the community as well as the organization. The study indicated that several members of the staff were performing their duties based on their personal and religious beliefs. The relaxed atmosphere and misinterpretation of the company's mission statement leads employees to believe that it is appropriate to exercise their beliefs and values at work.
workforce must learn to work together regardless of religious differences (Flake, 2015). Accordingly, employers and workers must adapt to the changing religious landscape and increase accommodations and tolerance of unique beliefs and practices. From a corporate perspective, Dixon can conduct a confidential diversity study to determine awareness of biases (Gomez-Mejia et al., 2016). With this data, Dixon can then develop and guide diversity awareness training across the entire company to foster an atmosphere of religious inclusion and initiate support groups to counteract feelings of
Two easily accommodations are dietary laws by allowing some more time for lunch on order for these employees to go get lunch, and traditional prayers by allowing an office specifically for prayers for all employees with different religions. Two difficult accommodations are gender segregation because the workplace will include both genders and daily worship if this worship would take the employee away from work from a certain time to a certain time because it could cause their work to be transferred to another employee to get done (Orthodox Judaism, 2012).
Deriving from this ideological texture of Paul’s letters in 2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV), Christian workers should apply God’s Word for His will and guidance. Therefore, whatever they do, and their plans will succeed. Still, having a victorious life can pose considerable personal challenges for every Christian, whose responsibility can change radically and strategically. It takes commitment, constituencies and courage. “We respond to it because we see ourselves in the text” (Hansen, 1995, pg.23). After all, if you want to become a better friend, a better spouse, a better student, a better leader, a better
5. Gabriel, Y. (1997) Meeting God: When organizational members come face to face with the
Furthermore, it is likely the popularity of globalization will continue therefore, one should assume that Christian leaders should familiarize themselves with other religious requirements so that they can provide a friendly and respectful working environment. It is imperative that Christian leaders educate themselves on the manner that they address other cultures so that they can properly inspire an efficient work ethic from all of their subordinates. In the event, a Christian leader feels that they need to witness to a non-believer that leader should be respectful and attempt the witnessing after work and away. However, it is advised to never witness to your subordinates since there is a higher probability that this action would create a hostile environment. In other words, a Christian leader should lead by example, inspire and create a curiosity from the subordinates as to why that leader is such a great person and leader. Once the subordinates discover that the leader is a Christian perhaps those non-believing subordinates may find their way to
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints about religious discrimination are rising faster than any other discrimination claim. Human Resources believe that this religious conflict is not a workplace issue, but an employee issue. “The most obvious opponents of the faith-at-work movement are agnostics, people who question the existence of a higher being, and atheists, who do not believe in any God.” (Canas & Sondak, 2014, p. 205) Bobbie Kirkhart (President of the Atheist International Alliance) states religious diversity should not be the same as race, gender, and ethnic diversity. She believes that religious groups should not be given the same status as those listed. Not just atheists and those who question the existence of a higher being disagree with religion in the workplace, but the cause of the rise of discrimination claims could be of religious bias from the traditional American faiths. (Day, 2005)
Andrew Hambler is an author that studied at the University of Wolverhampton. In this article, Managing Workplace Religious Expression within the Legal Constraints (2016), the author states that, “The purpose of this paper is to consider in broad terms how employers may respond to different forms of religious expression by employees in the workplace, within the discretion afforded to them by law”( Hambler, 2016, p.406). Based on the research, when employers accommodate religious expressions in the workplace, it is also essential to identify and correspond with legal compliances. Furthermore, the article states that, “Some employees (or public officials) with religious convictions may experience difficulties with performing an aspect of a normal
Taylor, you gave great view points about Senior Human Resources representatives need to understand how staff provide diversity training to the organization. Also you gave a view point of how religious believers will have to interact with many other beliefs in order address many diverse peoples. My thought is that we as believers and nonbelievers must present ourselves as a vital part of a system that promote good values to all that we encounter. In the workplace it is so important that as leaders coming from being a good follower of God guidance to build a world that all would want to be a part of.
When a person thinks of a job they think of the money they earn, but do not look further into the vulnerability of being discriminated because of religion. Everyone is entitled to basic human rights, among those include religious freedom as seen in the First Amendment in our nation's Constitution. The workplace should be a safe environment where people are able to go and earn a living for themselves and not have to fear discrimination due to their faith. There’s no doubt that religious discrimination in the workplace is a contentious issue, but Supreme Court rulings and organizations like the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), are addressing these situations.
In the workplace, today a question may come up that people may ask if religion should be allowed in the workplace. When it concerns the phrase “religion in the workplace,” different knotty problems can occur when there is any accommodation with any belief or religious practice. This belief which was placed under Title VII, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Kohler, 2008). When research was done on the background of the labor and employment discrimination law, it shows that there is a strong religious background acknowledged. We also have the First Amendment where we as Americans can enjoy two important freedoms which are related with respect to religion. One which is the right to be free from any government-imposed religion and is allowed the right to practice religion. When employers allow religion in the workplace, it could help to improve productivity, promote good ethical implications in society and help different people from other walks of life learn to work together.
Gregory, R. F. (2016). Encountering religion in the workplace: The legal rights and responsibilities of workers and employers. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
If you pick up a paper or magazine today most of the articles contain topics involving religion in the workplace or religion in the US military. It is hard for any Air Force member to go throughout their career without having to deal with religion in the workplace as a trending topic. “After entering the 21st century religion in the workplace has impacted not only schools, most major cooperation’s” (Ludolph, R. C., & Wolfe, A. A. (2013) , but the United States military across all the branches of the uniform service. In this paper I will be using two ethical theories and one ethical perspective to persuade you into believing that religion has a place in not only in today’s military but in every cooperate workplace or simply argue the facts
Therefore, one of their things they try to get others to realize is that they should decide to stop following their own agenda and follow the path God wants them to. In this case, the spiritual leader would not push their religion on the employee, but guide them and let them realize the choice to be made for themselves.