Seeking Advice: How Can We Respectfully Manage Religious Activities at Work?

Advice from Seniors:

Could you please advise on how we can avoid religious activities inside the office premises? If there is any policy or any initiatives, please advise.

Thanks

Hi,

Could you elaborate on what you mean by religious activities? If it's just an employee restricting it to his/her workstation with a photo of God, I think this is acceptable. We need more details to help you.

Regards,
Anuradha

Hi Rajkrishna,

There is no specific policy; it depends on the employer or employees.

Regards,
Tejas

Hi Anuradha,

Thanks for your quick reply. It is like that. Lot of chain emails spread across the organization, promoting people to join their personal religious activities. Putting wallpaper or any other photos on their workstations, and having meetings or discussions within the office premises on religion/caste are the main things that come to my mind. As you all know, this is a very sensitive issue and, moreover, it can be dangerous for any organization. I would like to know how HR will be able to handle or, you can say, avoid these activities.

Thanks

1. Lot of chain emails spread across the organization, promoting people to join personal religious activities.

Prepare an email policy restricting personal mails and forwards. Highlight the penalty for misuse.

2. Putting wallpapers or any other photos on their workstations.

I think this is the personal space of the individual, and it's better not to interfere. Be grateful there are no profanities displayed :D

3. Meetings or discussions within the office premises on religion/caste.

If these discussions are during lunchtime, don't interfere. However, if it affects productivity, issue a circular stating that meetings/discussions not related to work are not permitted during working hours. Please realize that you cannot curb or prevent an individual from practicing religion. However, if it interferes with productivity, treat it normally, as with any other activity that hampers productivity. No employee would like to be given instructions on what to do or not to do concerning beliefs and religion. Stay away from it.

Regards,
Anuradha

Dear Rajkrishna,

The problem you are mentioning, I feel, may be that you are unable to express yourself properly. However, if what you have written is true, then there is no issue at all. Let me clarify, we do allow our practicing Muslim employees to go to a nearby Masjid to offer Namaz. Similarly, we do not permit non-vegetarian food in certain areas where the vegetarians sit and eat, and we always accommodate requests for leave or early departure during festival days.

It is not a concern if individuals are voluntarily sharing religious items among themselves. From my experience, unless there is a sadhu, maulavi, or bishop involved, it typically does not impact productivity. On the contrary, it is beneficial if individuals are religious and hold a strong respect for God.

Conversely, if there is discrimination based on caste, creed, color, or race among individuals, that must be addressed firmly. While these issues were previously under control, there has unfortunately been an increase due to recent misguided and retaliatory reservation laws.

Regards,

SC

As long as you are positively clear that these acts will not lead to interpersonal conflicts/loss of productivity - ignore them. Handle them in the classical Hot Stove Theory method - fairly and equitably. All the best.

MICOKRISH

All,

Thanks a lot for giving wonderful thoughts on this matter. Considering all the comments, I believe the best idea would be:

1. Avoid people sending religious emails - Highlight it in the policy document.
2. We should not involve more in personal discussions unless it creates any sort of problem for the organization.
3. Handle these issues operationally (e.g., talk to the individual and advise them not to do things that may create problems for others).

These are the main points I gathered from my wonderful friends. Once again, thank you very much.

Regards,
Raj

Hi,

Some thoughts on this:

- Religious activities are to be kept out of a business environment. There can really be no issue on this. Only every company must be neutral in its determination and application of either acceptance or rejection of a practice.

- The practice of good values can always be encouraged. There is a huge difference between religious activities and the practice of what the religion stands for.

- All religions deal with goodness. Period. Those values can find a home in any environment. The application in the real world is what is required.

- On the other hand, using religion to guide how groups and people work/behave is the wrong practice of religion.

- Religion is to "realize" & not to be used as a tool. In other words, it's an attitude that must be internalized and spiritualized into action.

- Preach less, practice those tenets at work.

- People can have their small areas of internalization at their cubicles. That is fine. Wishing one another on religious occasions builds rapport and camaraderie. But perversion or fundamentalistic issues must be taken out of the workplace.

- What applies to one country may not apply to another. But the violation of human values in a work environment can have a common impact irrespective of religion. So be clear as to how to behave with which group. If you don't know, then ask.

SK

Hi All, Some of the employees in my company are having prayers during office timings, and some people are even going out of the office to offer prayers 4-5 times daily. By observing this activity, some more employees have started doing prayers in the office, and it's affecting productivity. This was noticed by management, and I was informed to circulate an email from HR to discourage these activities during office hours to all employees in the company.

Could someone please send me the email format to circulate in the company, stating that going forward, these kinds of activities are not allowed?

Regards,
Anil

I think this subject has been discussed in this forum elaborately. Use the search options.

My View

Curb the religious activities with an iron hand. Such orthodox people are not required in this scientific environment irrespective of their skill sets.

Regards,
Pon