"Even in an era that's more accepting of spirituality, the prospect of religion seeping into secular institutions, especially corporate ones, makes many uneasy" (Conlin 1999).
To tread a delicate balance between showing respect for religious differences and still allowing and encouraging spiritual and ethical concerns to be discussed in the workplace can be difficult. To do so "most companies and executives are careful to stick to a cross-denominational, hybrid message that's often referred to as secular spirituality. It focuses on the pluralistic, moral messages common to all the great religions, such as...respecting the interconnectedness of all actions and things, and practicing the Golden Rule. But it also puts a premium on free expression and eschews cramming beliefs down other people's throats" (Conlin 1999). Still, there is no way that 'all of the people can be pleased, all of the time,' to co-opt a phrase from P.T. Barnum. Every time a particular religious value is espoused, someone will feel left out, even or especially people who do not frame their personal ethical systems in terms of religion at all, or people whose spiritual orientation is more orthodox than the fuzzy, feel-good message of the corporate version of the Golden Rule.
Finally, the issue of tolerance has become especially thorny...
The immigration reforms of the 1960s resulted in an influx of Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists who today populate the workplace "and are bringing their respective religious garbs, diets and other practices" to work ("Religion in the workplace: Asset or debit?" Religion: News writers, 2005). But since the 9/11 attacks, Muslims in America and even people from the nations targeted in the Bush Administration's war on terror who are not Muslims, have found themselves ostracized in the workplace, because the workplace is an arena where people do not always choose their associates, or practice the tolerance preached by the company mission statement ("Religion in the workplace: Asset or debit?" Religion: News writers, 2005).
Works Cited
Abernathy, Bob. "Faith in the Workplace." Episode Number 822. 28 Jan 2005.
13 Dec 2007. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week822/cover.html
Conlin, Michelle. "Religion in the Workplace: The growing presence of spirituality in Corporate America." Business Week. Special Issue 1999. http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_44/b3653001.htm
Religion in the workplace: Asset or debit?" Religion: News writers. 16 May 2005.
13 Dec 2007. http://www.religionlink.org/tip_050516.php
