Religious expressions in working environments are increasing in prominence and have gained more attention with the increasing population diversity of the employees. In the current diverse and pluralistic society, religious conflicts are bound to emerge as the equal employment opportunity commission (EEIC) statistics show religious-based discrimination has increased to 52% and payout discrimination rose to 75% according to Lambert (2017).
With the increase in diverse religious employees in the workplace, they are often confronted with conflicts about their obligations in employment and their ethical obligations. The organization's plurality is made out of both individuals who are affiliated with organized religion and the ones that prefer an open spirituality and the non-believers according to Kelly, (2008). Employers are prohibited from not considering hiring employees because of their religious affiliation, and failure to honor this principle would result in undue hardship in the conduct of the business of the employer. The expression of religious beliefs in a working place has not been welcome in its entirety in the corporate section of America (Kelly, 2008). Employers have to find measures to mitigate the various religious obligations of the employees as some may seek a day off because of Sabbath and are to be accommodated in their work sequence.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Where companies are used to accommodating traditional Christian workers who openly confess their faith in speech and actions, problems are bound to occur, as they are likely to rub shoulders with other religious workers who belong to different religions and the ones who do not affiliate to any of the religions. It is the basis for employers to put restrictions on employees, barring their religious expressions, and taking industrial action against those who violate the rule. The civil rights act of 1964 restricted employers not to discriminate workers at their place of work based on religion as employees are required to include this right in the company manuals, policies and employee contracts. Employees are to be trained on the diversity of the religious rights to enable them not to engage in religious discrimination.
Employees are not allowed to express their religious insights to customers and are liable for punishment if they are caught as it is considered harassment although it is allowed if the client initiates the discussion (Hembler, 2016). Simple statements can offend other employees in the workplaces and employees are bound to be punished for causing conflicts based on their religious sentiments (Messarra, 2014). Diversity in America is encountered in two ways, either from the foreign workers from outside the state or from the rest of the world where people seek economic opportunities making the workplace diversify in character, gender, color, and religion. Work and religion in the United States have a strained relationship because of the change in religious landscape and the domination of a single religion in the workplace, which brings problems when people with other faiths come in the organization (Flake, 2015). America is a deeply rooted nation as the majority of the employees and managers subscribe to different faiths as it benefits the greater society as it plays a critical role towards religious tolerance.
Treating employees in a hostile manner at work amounts to religious discrimination, which is illegal as the law provides for consequences, in Title VI according to Hambler (2016). Employer’s practices, which amount to this vice, include, forcing employees into religious practices to keep their jobs, looking down on employee’s religion, and spiritual pressure from patrons in the retail business. Employers are to provide a peaceful environment to their employees by accommodating their religious obligations through allowing them to observe religious holidays, let the Muslims keep their headgears on and discuss other considerations to be made with the employees (Borstoff et al., 2012).
In conclusion, increasing diversity in the workplace by the maintenance of a religiously free environment is essential to allow all to freely express themselves with reason, as it is part of the American fabric. By offering sensitive training, addressing issues to do with discrimination and religious diversity, America is to remain diverse at the workplace, which is to be shown through religious expression in workplace and accommodation of the same by employers.
