Category: Diversity Insights

Please refer to our Online Diversity Calendar for a complete listing of religious events affecting the workplace.

In the United States, religion and the workplace are becoming increasingly intertwined. More workers expect their religious beliefs and practices to be accommodated in the workplace, to be given days off to celebrate holidays, and to be allowed time during the workday to practice religious beliefs.

Lack of awareness of these differing religious events can lead to disrespect, discrimination, employee turnover and costly lawsuits.

In most of the world, these accommodations have long been common.  Most countries have populations with a dominant religion. Religious practices are reflected in many aspects of the country’s life, including the workplace, public holidays, and societal values.

To help ensure workplace religious freedom and respect, you must ensure your employees are aware of the key events surrounding various religions. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Popular Religious Events

Christianity

Christianity is the main religious influence on U.S. businesses. Christianity is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.4 billion followers. It represents about 70% of religious practitioners in the US, and 33% globally.

The two main Christian holidays are:

• Easter
• Christmas

These religious events result in the almost complete closings of businesses in the United States, and in predominantly Christian countries or regions.

In non-U.S. regions where Christianity is the dominant religion – such as Western Europe – the days after Easter and Christmas are also celebrated with most businesses closed.

Islam

23% of the world’s popular practices Islam. Work schedules can significantly be affected by Islamic religious events and holidays. This can also have profound effects on how and when business is done. This is especially true of:

• Ramadan
• Eid al-Fitr
• Eid al-Adha

Friday prayer is obligatory and is held during the early afternoon. Since the Regular Islamic practices that should be accommodated on a daily basis include time and space for daily prayers and washing before prayer.

Judaism

It’s the second-largest religion in the United States. For observant Jews, several events require absence from work. These religious events include:

• The first two days of Passover
• Rosh Hashanah
• Yom Kippur
• first two days of Sukkoth

Some other prohibitions include traveling (except on foot), writing, using electricity or a telephone, and performing transactions of a commercial nature (i.e., buying and selling).

Hinduism

The most popular Indian religion has many holidays, which reflects its extremely diverse culture. Major holidays may require some flexible scheduling for employees to celebrate appropriately. These religious events include:

• Holi
• Diwali
• Vaisakhi
• Janmashtami

Buddhism

While Asian holidays often fall on weekends, there may be some times that employees request regular work days or hours off.  In China, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, and Thailand, New Year celebrations see many businesses and government offices closing for a few weeks. Some holidays may require you to offer flexible scheduling, including:

• Bodhi Day
• Buddha’s Birth

To find out this year’s dates for moveable religious events, try out our  Online Diversity Calendar.

Religious Events FAQs

What are some examples from the workplace of religious expression?
Examples of religious expression in the workplace can include wearing religious attire (e.g., headscarves or turbans), displaying religious symbols, observing prayer rituals, requesting time off for religious holidays, or engaging in discussions about one’s faith during appropriate contexts.

What is an example of a religious conflict in the workplace?
A common example of a religious conflict in the workplace is when scheduling conflicts arise due to employees needing time off for religious observance, leading to tensions with colleagues who may have to cover their duties. These conflicts can also occur if certain workplace policies or practices clash with an employee’s religious beliefs, such as dress codes that restrict religious attire.

What are 5 examples of religious practices?
Five examples of religious practices can encompass daily prayers, dietary restrictions (e.g., kosher or halal diets), fasting during specific times, attending religious services, and participating in religious festivals or rituals.

How does religion impact the workplace?
Religion can significantly impact the workplace by influencing employees’ behaviors, interactions, and needs. It can foster diversity and inclusion when accommodated appropriately but may also lead to conflicts if not managed well. Employers must navigate religious accommodations, address potential biases or discrimination, and create an environment that respects various beliefs to ensure a harmonious and productive workplace.

The world is undergoing a rapid transformation, with each passing day bringing new dynamics to the forefront. The 2020 United States Census shed light on the remarkable rise of various racial and ethnic groups within America, especially the Latino, Hispanic, Asian American, and multiracial communities. This surge in multiracial population growth has ushered in an era of unparalleled racial and ethnic diversity. Amidst this backdrop of transformation, affirmative action stands as a significant point of discussion. While the concept itself isn’t new, its relevance and implications have taken on new dimensions.

According to the US Census Bureau, the U.S. is 57.8% white, 18.7% Hispanic, 12.4% Black, and 6% Asian. Also, nearly 33.8 million people reported being more than one race, which is nearly three times more than 9 million people reported being multiracial in 2010.

The subject of race remains a highly contentious topic, as shown by the activism of groups like Black Lives Matter. Additionally, the effects that some recent Supreme Court rulings have made on society cannot be understated.  While this emerging diversity is good news, addressing the impact of the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action on minority rights is a crucial concern for many Americans.

Ready to foster inclusive leadership? Explore our Diversity and Inclusion Training and empower your team to thrive in a diverse and equitable workplace.

Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is a set of policies aimed at promoting work and educational opportunities for minority groups. While there have been more opportunities given to these communities than ever before, they still experience barriers in education and employment. This program helps prevent discrimination based on gender or race.

In June 2023, the Supreme Court made a historic decision with Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v President and Fellows of Harvard College. Their 6-2 decision struck down affirmative action by saying that race-based programs during college admissions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This essentially ends the ability of higher institutions to consider race as a factor when deciding if an applicant is qualified to be admitted.

The Importance of Affirmative Action for Minority Rights

Protecting one’s identity helps prevent forced assimilation and the loss of culture. Minority rights, whether race, ethnicity, or gender, ensure that all people are given proper treatment regardless of their identity. Affirmative action ensures that minorities are included and it helps them to succeed in the workplace and educational institutions.

Minorities require these special measures because they deserve to feel a sense of belonging in a society where they are not part of the majority. After all, minority rights are human rights and are in the best interest of our entire society. When a portion of a government dictates or violates the rights of minorities, it’s the responsibility of the corporate business world to pick up the slack.

The Aftermath of This Ruling

While recent diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have made strides in the workplace, many are worried about what the impact of affirmative action will have on applicants during the hiring process now. Concerns are growing about  future implications on the workforce as the pipeline and the programs designed to admit a wide range of individuals might face limitations moving forward.

What is even more concerning is the possibility that some companies may now begin to question their DEI strategies due to legal uncertainties arising from the recent court decision. This is despite existing legal protections against discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

How This Affirmative Action Decision Changes the Workplace

While this ruling doesn’t have a direct effect on workplace law, it could lead to problems with existing protections against decisions based on factors such as race. The ruling is likely to prompt a transformation in diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. As the legality of race-conscious considerations faces heightened legal scrutiny, employers might adopt more holistic diversity strategies that encompass a broader range of diversity factors beyond race.

It’s important to note that while the prohibition on race discrimination in education falls under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the prohibition on race discrimination in employment is governed by Title VII. Educational institutions have generally enjoyed greater latitude in considering race compared to employers.

Both mandatory and voluntary affirmative action for employers remain intact despite the Supreme Court’s decision. This reinforces the evolving landscape of DE&I efforts in the employment sphere.

Continuing DEI Initiatives in Light of Recent Changes

In light of these rulings, it becomes even more crucial to strengthen DEI programs. However, it’s essential to recognize that voluntary affirmative action programs are bound by limitations that prohibit the implementation of quotas, preferences, and set-asides.

To effectively promote diversity and inclusion, assess your organization demographics to identify underrepresentation among protected groups and then develop strategic plans to address these disparities. Equally important is creating accessible workplaces, including not just physical spaces but also digital ones. The goal is to create an inclusive work environment that resonates with a diverse spectrum of employees.

Ultimately, the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a multifaceted journey that goes beyond compliance—it’s about nurturing a workplace culture that embraces differences and empowers everyone to thrive.

Stay informed with our Online Diversity Calendar and celebrate important religious and cultural events throughout the year.

The Hajj holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims around the world. It is the most significant Islamic pilgrimage, a journey that draws Muslims closer to their faith and their Creator. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able is required to take this journey at least once in their life. It takes place once a year in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. Unlike other holy sites, Mecca is exclusively reserved for Muslims, who come from all corners of the globe to participate in the Hajj.

Origins and Spiritual Significance

The roots of the Hajj pilgrimage trace back to the times of the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail. They paved the way for this sacred journey, a path that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself would later tread. Muslims believe that Prophet Ibrahim’s faith was truly tested when God commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail. While he was prepared to submit to this act, Ibrahim’s faith was rewarded, and God spared his son’s life.

The Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar, which is typically 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one. Due to this, the date of the Hajj changes every year, occurring in Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The choice to perform the Hajj is life-changing and was exactly that for Rendy Syahdan Praditya, a graphic designer at Diversity Resources. His choice to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “This trip requires years of waiting because it is regulated by the state, and I have been waiting for it for approximately 12 years,” Rendy said.

Why Is The Kaaba So Important?

The central point of the Hajj is the Kaaba, the House of Allah, standing in the heart of Mecca. Here, Muslims come to cleanse their souls of worldly sins and to seek closeness to God. This annual practice of solidarity and submission to God is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Kaaba, located in the Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque, holds unparalleled significance in Islam. Built by both Ismail and Ibrahim, this symbolic structure serves as a focal point of Muslim prayers worldwide. Muslims from around the world face the Kaaba during their Salah or five daily prayers.

The Hajj Rituals

During this spiritual journey, Rendy engaged in the various rituals that define the Hajj pilgrimage.

Tawaf

The Tawaf involves walking around the Holy Kaaba seven times counterclockwise. During this time, they recite Takbir or other prayers to Allah. This act of worship represents unity among Muslims and submitting to Allah’s will.

Sa’i

The Sa’i ritual involves walking or running seven times between the Safa and Marwa hills near the Holy Kaaba. It symbolizes Hajar’s perseverance as she ran and climbed seven times between these hills looking for water for her son Ismail. The true lesson of this rite is patience and having unwavering faith in Allah’s plan.

Symbolic Stoning of the Pillars

The last three days of the journey involve the symbolic stoning of the three pillars representing the devil. This is a reenactment of when Prophet Ibrahim threw stones at Satan after attempting to dissuade him from following Allah’s orders. This gesture signifies the rejection of malice and a commitment to righteous living.

It is believed that after the Hajj is completed that all past sins are forgiven and there is the promise of Paradise after death.

Rendy’s Hajj Journey

Rendy’s journey wasn’t without challenges. The experience is not only mentally and emotionally taxing, but physically too. Rendy had to prepare physically for months in advance to be able to complete all that was required of him during this journey.

However, when it came to his emotional and spiritual preparation, he shared, “I just left it to God to offer me guidance on the journey.” To begin his pilgrimage, he first traveled to Medina, Saudi Arabia where he dedicated eight days to his Arba’in devotion and paid respects at the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Following those first eight days, he traveled to Mecca to perform the Hajj, which included participating in Umrah at the Grand Mosque, Wukuf, and Jamrah in the city of Mina, all spanning around 32 days in total.

Speaking about his gratitude for the experience, he said he cannot put into words how appreciative he is to be able to participate in this trip. “It’s the ultimate form of prayer for Muslims. And, of course, I gained a lot of knowledge and became more obedient in practicing my religion,” Rendy said.

Learn more about Islamic celebrations and observances on our Islamic Holy Days blog.

Reflections on the Hajj Experience

After this experience, Rendy reflected on the spiritual significance of his pilgrimage and how being amongst other Muslims made him feel. “I felt united with people from various countries, languages, and skin tones that all share the same goal: to perform the Hajj.”

Rendy acknowledged the challenges he faced, especially in maintaining his physical condition and practicing patience throughout the lengthy process. He also highlighted the effort he put into avoiding prohibited actions.

Certain behaviors, such as losing your temper, arguing, trimming nails, cutting hair, swearing, smoking, and taking photos or videos, are forbidden during the pilgrimage.

Despite the difficulties, Rendy believes that the positive aspects of completing the Hajj properly outweigh any hardships. Rendy shared that the experience helped him to “become more glorified and loving of God and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as his messenger.”

Lessons Learned From His Pilgrimage

The Hajj experience will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on Rendy’s life. “I grew more religious and wanted to learn more about religion, specifically Islam and its holy book, the Holy Qur’an, while also pushing my Muslim brothers and sisters to do the same,” he said. “This experience will serve as my guide in carrying out all of God’s instructions.”

Rendy pointed out that the most impactful moment for him was the time when he visited the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and prayed between his tomb and the pulpit. “From there, I visited the Kaaba for the first time and performed Tawaf seven times, because this is known as Allah’s (SWT) house and the Qibla location of prayer for all Muslims around the world,” Rendy said.

When reflecting on how the experience has changed him, Rendy says that he has “become more tranquil and has fully surrendered to God.” He encourages other Muslims to not hesitate on experiencing their own Hajj trip, stressing the importance of sincerity in fulfilling all of the steps of the pilgrimage and learning fully from the experience.

Lastly, Rendy emphasized that we should “respect everyone, regardless of their differences, and love every living creature and all of God’s creation.” With stories like these, the world becomes a more accepting place of different cultures, races, ethnicities, and religions, that all strive for understanding in a complicated world.

Be more inclusive and never miss a holiday by using our Online Diversity Calendar – you can try it for free.

What is Diversity?

Diversity is a simple term that carries a lot of weight and history. Generally defined, diversity refers to the practice of involving people with different backgrounds or identities, such as race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. A diverse workplace welcomes people with a variety of identities and a variety of backgrounds.

Why do we need Equity and Inclusion too?

While diversity has been commonly used as a catchall phrase, it doesn’t fully capture the complete picture. Often, addressing diversity issues was done only superficially, with quotas, surface level requirements, and other performative gestures that don’t fully bring everyone to the table. Equity and Inclusion are separate but related concepts which deepen and broaden the practices of diversity. These three components, often abbreviated as DEI, work together to create a more inclusive environment.

What is Equity?

Equity has gained prominence as a key word in recent years alongside diversity. Equity refers to equal opportunity, access and treatment for everyone, regardless of background and identity. In practice, equity also refers to actions taken to identity and remove systemic obstacles faced by certain groups, such as providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. An equitable workplace recognizes variety and doesn’t impose one-size-fits-all systems that benefit one group above others.

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion, like equity, has become an important word in recent years. The concept involves actively bringing people to the table, welcoming a variety of voices, and encouraging collaboration. An inclusive workplace actively fosters understanding of and engagement with everybody.

What about Belonging?

Recently, the term Belonging is also gaining traction in DEI conversations. You can build a diverse team, treat them fairly, and include them in decisions, yet people may still feel isolated or excluded – an issue which Covid has shined a bright light on. Fostering Belonging involves synthesizing all the concepts introduced above, and finding where DEI meets engagement, passion and community. Belonging is a state of involvement where all members feel valued, appreciated, respected, and they are at “home” with their colleagues.

Adverse times can often catalyze great changes for the better, and the ongoing conversations about the workplace in the wake of the pandemic are exactly one of those times. Efforts to foster Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not only supported by a strong moral case but also a strong business case. Many firms and organizations now have roles dedicated to the DEI movement as they realize the benefits of diversity. Managers and leaders who implement DEI and put belonging at the center of the culture are not only doing something ethical, but doing something that builds a strong organization.

Ready to enhance diversity and inclusion in your workplace? Explore our comprehensive Online Diversity and Inclusion Training tailored to empower your team.

Today, organizations strive to embrace diversity by fostering teams with various backgrounds and perspectives. However, this alone is insufficient. For the best results, inclusive leadership is essential in making team members feel inspired and respected.

Recent research shows that inclusive leadership isn’t just a “nice to have,” but a must for those who want to advance their performance.

According to Deloitte, teams fostering inclusive leadership are:

• 17 percent more likely to report high performance
• 20 percent more likely to say they make high-quality decisions
• 29 percent more likely to report behaving collaboratively

If you’re seeking similar favorable outcomes, here are a few more reasons why cultivating inclusive leadership is crucial.

Stay informed with our 2023 Diversity Calendar and celebrate important religious and cultural events throughout the year.

Inclusive leadership allows you to connect with team members

Connections are the links that bring people together. They allow us to build social and emotional bonds that help us gain information and enhance workplace performance. When employees feel connected to one another and their managers, they’re more likely to be satisfied with their roles.

Inclusive leadership is built on the foundation of reaching out to others, asking about their experiences, and actively listening. When you implement a model of inclusive leadership, you show them that their perspectives matter, and you want them involved in the future of the organization.

Inclusive leadership helps your team feel more comfortable

As an inclusive leader, you should take the time to learn about each of your employees. Acknowledge them as individuals and understand how they like to be supported, especially according to cultural differences and customs. When you practice cultural competency, you can help make your team feel more comfortable and supported in their roles, which enhances both loyalty and productivity.

As you’re prioritizing inclusive leadership, you should also note how you should not act in the workplace. For instance, being very direct or overpowering can often be off-putting to employees, and it can also limit the contribution of certain parties to the conversation. This is exactly what you’re trying to avoid in inclusive leadership.

Likewise, you should avoid discounting any alternative views. When you’re vocal about your own strong opinion, it can make it feel risky for team members to bring forward opposing viewpoints and threatens any diversity-of-thought environment you’re attempting to cultivate.

Inclusive leadership reveals your organization’s blind spots

In the past few years, society has been met with a harsh reality regarding the state of racial justice in our world. While we may have previously lived in delusion, we’ve been forced to face and address this issue head-on because of the footage captured on smartphones and blasted all over social media. This technology revealed a blind spot that many were oblivious to.

Similarly, inclusive leadership can bring blind spots to light. It prompts you to reflect on your own shortcomings and limitations, and reveals any unconscious bias you may have. It asks you to reach out to others and hear their experiences. It helps you become better equipped to take meaningful actions and accessible to all employees.

Final Thoughts

Being an inclusive leader gives you the power to harness a diverse team. When you implement this strategy in your organization, you’ll see the results in the performance of your teams.

Ready to foster inclusive leadership? Explore our Diversity and Inclusion Training and empower your team to thrive in a diverse and equitable workplace.