Source: www.nytimes.com
NEW YORK, NY, July 2, 2010: [HPI note: This article answers common question about religion in relation to one’s job. For the full article, click on the source above.]
Q. You want to take time off for a religious observance that does not occur on your day off or on a paid holiday. Should you tell your manager the reason, or just take it as personal time and leave it at that? A. Although some companies give employees paid personal days off — and don’t require them to divulge the reason, it’s a good idea to be upfront about it, according to Mary Hladio, chief executive of Ember Carriers, an organizational development consulting firm in Cincinnati. Speak to your manager privately, letting her know that the time off is for a religious observance, so she understands why the day off is important to you, Ms. Hladio says. “Be aware how your request affects the rest of your team,” she says, “and give as much advance notice as possible.”
Q. Is it O.K. to put up religious symbols or sayings in your office or cubicle? A. Yes, as long as those around you aren’t distracted by them or find them blatantly offensive. Especially if your work space is a cubicle, make sure that anything religious, or anything personal, for that matter, is within your private space and not on an outside wall. Keep in mind that it’s a place for conducting business. “You don’t want it to look like you’re proselytizing, for example, by having a large crucifix on the front door,” Mr. Zuckerberg says.
Q. If your employer tells you it’s not acceptable to express your faith at work, whether in how you decorate your office, how you dress or what you say to others, is this religious discrimination? A. The law says you have a right to be free from discrimination based on religion, but that’s generally in cases of blatant discrimination, like being fired or not hired because of your religion, Mr. Zuckerberg says. Everything else is a balancing act between the interests of the business and employees’ desires to express their beliefs.
Q. You sometimes want to discuss things related to your faith, like religious teachings or an interesting sermon you’ve heard. Is that appropriate at work? A. People around the water cooler talk about all kinds of things, sports, dating, family, sex, births and religion, and it can all be acceptable, Mr. Hicks says. The important thing is to be sensitive to the response you receive from others. “If they act disinterested or uncomfortable, you have to stop,” he says. “It’s all about mutual respect.”