Religion in the Workplace and the World
In the face of globalization, changing economic realities, demographic shifts, and religious pluralization, increasing awareness regarding religion in the workplace has proved to help create a harmonious professional environment. This field of study is attracting growing interest from academics, management scholars, human resources professionals, legal experts, and the media.
Requests for religious accommodation in the workplace are rising. Claims of discrimination based on religion are second only to sexual harassment. Managers and supervisors need to understand how to balance the various rights and obligations of religious practices, observances, and beliefs among employees.
In order to help professionals in East Tennessee achieve that balance, the Department of Religious Studies hosted a daylong workshop on October 24, 2011 that offered the following:
- An overview of the legal framework related to religion in the workplace
- A basic understanding of the way that diverse religious practices may manifest themselves in the workplace
- Guidance on how and when to reasonably accommodate those expressions
For press coverage, click here. A second workshop is planned for fall 2012.
Other Useful Sources
- Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding Religion and Diversity in the Workplace
- World Religions Fact Sheet
- U.S. Department of Justice Religious Discrimination in Employment
- Catalyst Religion in the Workplace
- Religion in the Workplace: More Than Just Faith in the System
- Douglas A. Hicks, Religion and the Workplace: Pluralism, Spirituality, Leadership
- The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
- The Pluralism Project: Civic Initiative
- The Pluralism Project: Religious Diversity and the Workplace (research report 2004)
- Diana Eck, “A New Religious America after September 11”
- How to keep religious beliefs out of the workplace
- Workplace Duties and Religious Beliefs
- What is legally considered religious harassment in the workplace?
- Stephen Prothero, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — And Doesn’t
Contact Information
Religion in the Workplace
Department of Religious Studies
Rosalind I. J. Hackett, Ph.D.
Professor and Head
501 McClung Tower
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0450
Phone: 865-974-2466
Fax: 865-974-0965
Email: rhackett@utk.edu