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Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Introduction
As an employer, it makes sound business sense to employ people on
the basis of their talents and to target goods and services at all
sections of the community. As a result, an appreciation of the diversity
of cultures and religions practised in the UK today is crucial for
business success.
This document illustrates basic information about this host of religious
and cultural lifestyles.
Religion and culture are inextricably linked since religious belief and
practice have a profound impact on lifestyle and cultural events.
It is hoped that the information contained herein will help you to
make the most of your diverse workforce, and effectively target your
goods and services at the wealth of communities in our diverse
society.
Fortunately, it is now recognised by many employers that in the UK,
the standard working week and provisions for public holidays have,
legitimately, been influenced by the traditions and religious needs of
Christianity. For example, a devout Christian can observe the festivals
of their faith without conflict with the demands of the workplace.
However, should there be employees who observe other religions, an
employer may need to exercise flexibility over public holiday dates
and working arrangements.
A good employer will respectfully seek
information from their culturally and religiously
observant employees about timings of major
events and festivals.
With advance notice of such dates, arrangements for time off for
celebration can be made without leading to serious disruption in the
workplace.
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Dietary Requirements
Many cultures and religions have precise rules relating to the
preparation and consumption of food. As an employer, it is
recommended that your catering staff bear in mind some of these
sensitive dietary restrictions and cater for all staff insofar as is
reasonably practicable in the workplace.
The Law
The Race Relations Act (1976) specifically outlaws discrimination on
racial grounds. In 1984, the Commission for Racial Equality published
an advisory document entitled ‘The Code of Practice for the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Promotion of Equality
of Opportunity in Employment’. This code is not legally binding but
it does assist employers to achieve good practice.
Christian Beliefs and Practices
Christianity originated in the Middle East and is now over 2000 years
old. Christians believe in one God and that God revealed Himself to
mankind as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It is also believed that he has revealed Himself through the Bible and
through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christianity is divided into four principal denominations: Orthodox,
Pentecostal, Protestant and Roman Catholic. However all Christians
believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God who lived on earth
as a human being, was crucified as part of God’s plan for redeeming
the sins of mankind, and then rose from the dead. For Christians,
Jesus is the saviour of the human race.
Holy Communion - also referred to as the Mass, the Eucharist and
the Lord’s Supper - is a pivotal aspect of Christian worship.
Worshippers consume bread and wine as a token of the body and
blood of Christ sacrificed for human sins.
Christianity originated in the Middle East and is
now over 2000 years old
The Christian in the Workplace
In spite of the fact that the standard working week and public
holidays have been influenced by the traditions and religious
observances of Christianity, employers should note that current
working patterns, coupled with the amendment to the Sunday
trading law, could make it problematic for practising Christians to
meet their religious commitments.
The two festivals of Easter and Christmas are prominent in the
Christian calendar. Easter, the most important celebration,
commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. The date for Easter varies
year to year.
Dietary Requirements
Christian dietary habits tend to be culturally rather than religiously
determined. However, some African and South Asian Christians may
avoid pork. Alcohol is forbidden according to some Christian groups,
although, as previously mentioned, drinking wine (in moderation)
plays a symbolic religious role in Holy Communion.
Dress Code
There are no religious laws governing dress code. Christians will wear
clothes according to their cultural or national origin. As a result, it
would not be out of the ordinary to see a South Asian Christian
woman wearing a shalwar kameez or sari. Some conservative
European Christians ascertain that women must wear hats in church.
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Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Hindu Beliefs and Practices
The term ‘Hinduism’ is used to describe the ancient religious culture of
India. This culture is over 5,000 years old and is practised by countless
millions.
Hinduism has neither a single founder, nor a single scripture that is
uniquely authoritative.
However, the Bhagavad Gita (song of the Lord) is usually regarded as
the most sacred piece of revelation. A great many Hindus worship
many Gods and Goddesses, but some claim to ultimately worship
only one God.
this festival by a day is the Laxmi-Puja festival where the goddess of
wealth is invited into the home. The goddess Laxmi blesses the
family to make the future of the household auspicious for the
following year.
Hindus support fully the notion of reincarnation and that behaviour
in this life determines your moral status in the next. There is also a
caste system which was introduced by the supreme deity, Brahman.
This system is intended to create a just but hierarchical society in
which different groups have different hereditary rights.
Dietary Requirements
Hindus uphold the sacredness of all life, including animal life. Devout
Hindus will neither eat meat nor fish. Some will not eat eggs. Even
those Hindus who have decided to eat meat will nonetheless refuse
to eat beef since the cow is seen as a sacred animal. Hinduism
forbids the consumption of alcohol. Garlic and onions are thought to
be foods discarded by the gods. Strictly orthodox Hindus will not eat
food prepared by someone not belonging to the same level of caste
as themselves.
Hindu worship is a private matter for each
individual. A devout Hindu will usually worship
in their own home in a room specifically set
aside for this purpose. They will also celebrate,
along with their community, many religious
and cultural festivals.
The Hindu in the Workplace
Hindus celebrate many festivals and are particularly zealous to
celebrate Deepawal (also known as Divali), the autumn festival of
lights that also marks the start of the new financial year. Preceding
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Dress Code
Hindus don’t observe any specific cultural dress with stringency. They
will gladly wear clothes from other countries, including Western
attire. However, Hindu men typically wear a pyjama (narrow
trousers) and kurta, which is a loose fitting shirt. Women often wear
a sari, a long piece of material wrapped around the body. Married
Hindu women wear a bindi - a red powder spot marked on the
forehead.
Muslim Beliefs and Practices
Muslims believe that there is only one God, Allah, and that the Prophet
Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was his final messenger. The Quran
and Sunnah together provide an authoritative source for Muslim law
(Shariah).
Muslims must witness publicly to the unity of God and the
prophethood of Muhammad. This is the first pillar of faith. The
remaining compulsory faiths are: five obligatory scheduled daily
prayers, fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan, payment of the
alms tax annually and the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a
lifetime (finances permitting).
Muslims celebrate several religious festivals.
The Eid-ul-Fitr celebrates the end of the month
of abstinence observed in Ramadhan.
The Eid-ul-Adha, celebrated approximately 70
days after Eid-ul-Fitr, is centred around the
sacrificing of animals and the distribution of
meat to the needy.
The Muslim in the Workplace
Devout Muslims pray at dawn (Fajr), in the early afternoon (Zuhr),
late afternoon (Asr), at sunset (Maghrib) and late in the evening
(Isha). The believer must perform ablutions before prayers can
commence. Depending on the time of year, the number of prayers
falling within normal working hours varies from one in the summer
to three during the winter.
Male Muslims are enjoined to attend the midday congregational
prayer on Fridays in a communal setting. Every Muslim adult is
required to fast in Ramadhan. They must abstain from food, drink
and sex from dawn to sunset for one lunar month. Women who are
pregnant, nursing or menstruating and those on a journey are
exempt from fasting, as are people who are ill and whose condition
will worsen by fasting.
Missed fasts must be made up at a later date. The month of
Ramadhan, based on the lunar calendar may fall at any time of the
year.
Some Muslims may apply for leave in order to perform the
pilgrimage to Mecca during the Hajj season.
Dietary Requirements
In Islam, all food is classified as either halal (lawful) or haram
(prohibited). Religious law requires that animals be slaughtered by a
trained person in the name of God. An animal should not be stunned
before slaughter; a quick deep stroke of a sharp knife across the
throat is required. Pork and alcohol are absolutely forbidden.
It should be borne in mind that utensils used to serve haram food
cannot be used on halal food.
Dress Code
Both men and women are required to dress and behave modestly.
Once a young woman reaches puberty, she must cover her hair and
wear loose flowing opaque garments, which conceal the shape of her
body. This style of dress (hijab) must be practised in the presence of
all men except those with whom a woman is forbidden to marry,
such as her father or brothers. Men should also dress modestly.
Western clothes may be worn as long as they fulfil the criterion of
modesty.
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Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Jewish Beliefs and Practices
Judaism originated in the Middle East and is based on the belief in one
God. According to Torah, the central scripture for Jews, God is holy and
unmitigated. He is omnipotent, omniscient and eternal. The rules and
traditions an observant Jew follows are known collectively as the
halakha (the path).
According to Orthodox Judaism, 613
commandments (or mitzvot) lie at the heart of
the halakha. God in the Torah gave some of
these, while others were added by the rabbis
and derived from ancient Jewish customs. Apart
from the written Torah, there is a verbal Torah
that is an attempt to understand and apply the
written version.
Jews celebrate many religious and cultural festivals associated with
significant historical events in Jewish history. The Passover
commemorates the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year. It coincides with the
beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance. The last of these days is
the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the holiest day in the Jewish
calendar. The Sabbath (Shabbat) is a day of complete rest and starts
on Friday immediately before dusk and ends after dusk on Saturday.
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The Jew in the Workplace
The halakah necessitates Jews to refrain from work on the Sabbath.
Therefore, a practising Jew must be able to leave work in sufficient
time to arrive home by the start of the Sabbath.
Apart from the weekly Sabbath, there are 21 holy days in the Jewish
calendar: Passover (8 days); Pentecost (2 days); New Year (2 days);
Day of Atonement (1 day); Simchat Torah (1 day) and Tabernacles (7
days). All festivals commence immediately before dusk and may fall
on any day of the week.
Dietary Requirements
Jews are religiously obliged to eat kosher food. That is to say that a
devout Jew can only eat certain types of meat and fish. Meat must
be prepared in a ritually acceptable manner. Meat and dairy products
must not be eaten in the same meal. Pork is forbidden to Jews.
Dress Code
It is imperative that practising Jewish men keep their head covered
at all times generally by wearing a Kippah (skull cap). Orthodox
Jewish women are required to dress modestly.
Sikh Beliefs and Practices
Around 500 years old, Sikhism emerged as a result of the teachings of
Guru Nanak in India. Guru Nanak’s aim was to encourage all people to
faithfully worship one God. The fundamentals of the religion were then
further developed by a continuous line of nine gurus (teachers) who
succeeded him.
The last guru declared that after him, there
would be no other gurus. The Guru Granth
Sahib, the Sikh holy book, would be viewed as
the eternal guru.
For Sikhs, the Granth Sahib is the focal point of a Sikh temple
(Gurdwara) and the ultimate source of religious authority. A devout
Sikh will observe the five Ks: Kesh (uncut hair); Kangar (small wooden
comb); Kara (steel bracelet); Kirpin (small dagger) and Kancha
(shorts).
The Sikh in the Workplace
Sikhs celebrate several religious festivals that combine a cultural and
religious significance. The central festival is Vaisakhi, a dual
celebration incorporating both a harvest festival and a
commemoration of Guru Gobind Singh’s creation of the Khalsa, the
pure brotherhood of Sikhs. Sikhs celebrate Diwali, the festival of
lights. They also celebrate these main anniversaries: Guru Nanak’s
birthday; Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday and the day of the
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Devji.
Dietary Requirements
Sikhism forbids smoking and the consumption of alcohol. A devout
Sikh will neither eat eggs, nor any animal by-product. Many Sikhs do
not eat meat either. Sikhs regard the cow as a sacred animal and the
pig is thought to be dirty - hence the prohibition of pork.
Dress Code
Sikh men are religiously required to wear turbans to cover their
uncut hair. Should she choose, a Sikh woman may also wear a
turban. Young Sikh boys will wear their long hair tied in a topknot.
The five Ks will be worn on the person: some will be visible, such as
the Kesh (uncut hair covered by a turban) and Kara (steel bracelet),
while others, such as the Kirpan (sword) and Kachcha (shorts) will be
worn under the clothes. Some married women, like their Hindu
counterparts, may also wear a bindi - a red powder spot marked on
the forehead.
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Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Rastafarian Beliefs and Practices
Originating in Jamaica in 1930, Rastafarianism is a religious and
cultural movement that has many links with the Jewish and Christian
faiths. The original devotees to Rastafarianism, known in short as
Rastas, were Jamaicans led by Marcus Garvey, a charismatic Jamaican
leader. He prophesised the crowning of Haile Selassie as King, God and
saviour of the black people of the world. Ras (meaning Lord), Tafari (a
family name) was the prince who, in 1930, was crowned Emperor Haile
Selassie I of Ethiopia, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
Rastafarianism has now become more of a
cultural ‘Back to Africa’ mass movement. Its
beliefs are based on the Bible and Rastas
interpret the Bible as an account of Rastafarian
history.
According to Rastas, when the 12 tribes of Israel were scattered, the
spirit of the Lord went to Ethiopia; the Ethiopians became a chosen
people. Ethiopia is seen as the Promised Land to which all black
people will one day return.
The Rastafarian in the Workplace
Rastafarians neither celebrate Christmas nor New Year. However,
they do celebrate the birthday of the Emperor Haile Selassie on 23
July. Ordinarily, Rastafarians would wish to take annual leave on this
date.
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Dietary Requirements
Rastafarian dietary requirements are based on Old Testament
hygienic laws. Some Rastafarians eat only ital foods - foods that are
pure and untainted, or otherwise natural. Milk, coffee and alcohol are
all forbidden beverages. Rastas refuse to eat pork, lamb and some
seafood. Many Rastas are vegetarian.
Dress Code
An orthodox Rasta will wear their hair in long flowing locks known
as dreadlocks. To cut it is viewed as sinful. The dreadlocks symbolise
the values of respect, power, freedom and defiance. Rastas cover
their hair at all times. Rasta women keep their legs covered. Some
Rastas will proudly wear the Star of David. The colours red, black,
green and yellow hold special significance for a committed
Rastafarian.
Buddhist Beliefs and Practices
Buddhism is more than 2,500 years old and has more than 2,000 sects.
It developed in North India in the 6th or 5th century BC, when
Siddharthe Gautama attained ‘enlightenment’ - the ultimate truth by
which people are freed from the cycle of re-birth.
He became the ‘Buddha’ (‘enlightened one’). Buddhism can be either
a religion or a philosophy. It teaches that “the cessation of suffering,
which is caused by desire, is enlightenment.’’ This enlightened state
is called Nirvana.
isolation; the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader
of Tibetan Buddhists.
Meditation and chanting are important to
Buddhists, although not all Buddhists do either
or both.
The Buddhist in the Workplace
Holidays for sects from Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand
and Sri Lanka include “Versakha Puja” or “Buddha Day,’” which is the
most sacred day and falls on the full moon of the sixth lunar month;
and “Magha Puja,” which falls on the full moon of the third lunar
month.
There are estimated to be as many as 665 million practising
Buddhists worldwide. Buddhism spread to China around the
beginning of the Christian era and it is still a major religious and
cultural influence in China.
For the Mahayana sect from China, Japan, Tibet, Korea and Vietnam,
holidays include “Nirvana Day,” which celebrates the original
Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment and “Bodhi Day,” which
celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha under the Bodhi tree.
The religion arrived in Japan about 1,000 years after the time of
Buddha. About three quarters of the Japanese population are
Buddhist.
Dietary Requirements
Buddhists advocate vegetarianism but it is not obligatory.
Tibetan Buddhism is considered the most
authentic form because of Tibet’s long
Dress Code
There are no religious laws governing specific dress code.
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Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Chinese Beliefs and Practices
Chinese people do not, in general, feel that they must choose one
religion or philosophy and reject the others. They may choose
whatever seems more suitable or helpful - whether at home or in
public life.
There are a number of beliefs that are seen as complementing each
other: ‘Confucianism’, ‘Taoism’, ‘Buddhism’ and ‘Popular Religion’
(which are practised amongst Chinese communities around the
world and are communal in nature - participating in annual festivals,
rather than doctrinal and theological). Confucianism, a major system
of thought in China, developed from the teachings of Confucias and
his disciples, concerned with the principles of good conduct, practical
wisdom, and proper social relationships. Confucianism has influenced
the Chinese attitude toward life, set the patterns of living and
standards of social value, and provided the background for Chinese
political theories and institutions. It has spread from China to Korea,
Japan and Vietnam and has aroused interest among Western
scholars.
Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy, which
promotes living simply and in harmony with
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nature, and going with the flow. Taoists believe
that by following the natural world, pursuing a
strict diet and meditation regime and not
struggling with their lot, they can achieve inner
calm, improved health and great martial power.
Dietary Requirements
Chinese dietary habits tend to be culturally rather than religiously
determined.
Dress Code
There are no religious laws governing specific dress code. Chinese
people will wear clothes according to their culture.
Culture and Religion in the Workplace
Finally...
There is no reason why a culturally and
religiously observant employee should
not carry out their job with complete
confidence and competence.
Should you require further information
please contact the Commission for
Racial Equality on 0113 3893 600.
LSC 2001. Published by the Learning and Skills Council.
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