{"id":17296,"date":"2022-03-01T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T08:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk\/?p=17296"},"modified":"2022-07-20T10:29:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T09:29:40","slug":"why-employers-need-to-think-about-faith-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk\/blog\/why-employers-need-to-think-about-faith-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"How to understand and celebrate faith in the workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"

How does faith help during difficult times?<\/h2>\n

During difficult times, many people turn to faith as an anchor. The last few years have been unlike anything we could have imagined.<\/p>\n

With global lockdowns, working from home, a virus that wouldn’t go away, conflict, hatred, and war, it’s easy to see why so many people find solace in their faith.<\/p>\n

Places of worship were forced to close as a result of these events, which seemed to be a symbolic reflection of the silence we experienced and the darkness people felt, or are still feeling.<\/p>\n

Many people require light at this time. It is not surprising that many people have turned to faith for comfort during these trying times. <\/p>\n

For some, it may be a new journey, while for others, it may be a return to a previous one. Because faith is such an important part of so many people’s lives in the workplace, we must not only understand it but embrace it.<\/p>\n

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Understand your colleague\u2019s faith to enable inclusion<\/h2>\n

Faith and belief is a personal matter for many individuals. We may know of or have seen members of staff observing their faith in the workplace, but do we really know much about their beliefs?<\/p>\n

Other than our assumptions or from hearing their needs around adjustments, do we truly understand the concepts that underpin one of the cornerstones of our colleague\u2019s life?<\/p>\n

To engage with our inclusion and diversity strategies<\/a> and create inclusion, we need to understand the communities within our organisation.<\/p>\n

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How can understanding people\u2019s faith be helpful?<\/h2>\n

Cultural competency and interfaith initiatives are vital in creating empowerment for employees, as faith and belief intersect with many of the protected characteristics.<\/p>\n

Your understanding of faith is critical to the success of some of your employees.<\/p>\n

If employees feel confident to bring that part of themselves to work \u2013 that they can confidently undertake the practices that are important to their faith and share as much as they wish about it, without fear of discrimination \u2013 you will be enabling them to bring their whole self to work and you will likely get the best from them in return.<\/p>\n

There are many benefits of religious diversity<\/a> in the workplace, for both individuals and the organisation. When employees can thrive, organisations can thrive.<\/p>\n

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Faith in changing work environments<\/h2>\n

Over the last couple of years, many have re-kindled their faith as they have been working from home, or have found faith to be an anchor.<\/p>\n

As the workplace changes again, whether you are moving into hybrid patterns, returning to the office or continuing to work from home, employers need to think more about inclusion through the lens of faith.<\/p>\n

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How to celebrate faith within the workplace<\/h2>\n

Employees perform better where they can be themselves. Think about how your workplace can celebrate and empower faith, not just tolerate or accept it.<\/p>\n

You can start to do this by:<\/p>\n