World Religions and

their connection to
Office Interactions

By: Hayden Smith

 Major World Religions

• There are 5 Major that are commonly found in American Workplaces

• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism is also quite large worldwide, but it still uncommon in the US
• Folk and local religions are also common outside the US, and should be kept in mind when
talking with others from foreign nations
 General Best Practices for Religious
Accommodation
• There are some general guidelines for religious accommodation
• Push the burden of planning onto them
• For planning events and catering, send surveys for people tell you the dietary reresections or
time constraints
• Let others tell you any religious constraints they have
• Do not make assumptions about other beliefs
• Always invite or ask questions, do not assume people’s beliefs and leave them out
• Never make comments someone’s religion that can be seen as offensive
• Never make religious jokes in the workplace
Christianity

Beliefs and Practices Possible Accommodations Needed

• Christians believe in the God of Abrahm and • People of the catholic faith have dietary
Jesus Christ restriction on meat during Lent
• Jesus Christ is the son of God who died and • Many Christians may want to leave early on
rose from the dead Wednesday for midweek services
• Christian practices and beliefs vary • Many Christians of protestant beliefs may feel
depending on domination uncomfortable at bars or abstain from alcohol
• Many abstain from alcohol • Many Christian worker will want Sunday’s off
• Common among protestant faiths (if it isn’t already given)
• Sunday and often Wednesday night are
worship days
 Islam
Beliefs and Practices Possible Accommodations Needed
• Muslims believe in the God of Abrahm and the prophet • Contact between Muslims and persons of the
Muhammad was the final prophet of God opposite sex needs to be kept in mind
• Muslims have 5 daily prayers they are obligated to • When picking restaurants or catering, Muslim
perform in worship of God dietary restrictions should be considered
• These prayers are to be performed at certain time intervals throughout the day
• Time should be permitted during the day to
• Muslim’s have certain beliefs about modesty between perform their daily prayers
Non-family members of the opposite sex
• Muslim men and women do not touch the opposite sex (including shaking hands) • Time should be given during Friday for Al-
• Muslim men and women will not talk alone with someone of the opposite sex Jumuah
• Long eye contact with the opposite sex is uncommon
• During Ramadan, Muslim employees may
• Muslim’s day of worship is on Friday, called Al-Jumuah
request to use some PTO or UTO for the
• Ramadan is a major Muslim Holiday celebrate during • It would also be wise to not schedule them in
the 9th month on the Islamic calendar work lunches or other invites involving food
• The month commemorates Muhammad’s first revelation, and is celebrate by fasting sunrise to sunset during the day when they cannot eat
• Muslims eat Halal food and abstain from alcohol • Employee may request time off for the Hajj
• The Hajj is a weeklong pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that
Muslim's are obligated to try to perform once in their life
Judaism
Beliefs and Practices Possible Accommodations Needed
• Jews believe in the God of Abrahm • Jewish dietary restrictions should be
• Jews have a lot of holidays considered when planning catering
• A few of the big ones are Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, The
Passover, Rosh Hashanah • Hasidic Jewish men may not shake
• Jewish dietary recreations are called Kosher hands with a women
• Jews do not strictly abstain from alcohol • Jew may request to leave early in the
• Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest that takes winter due to Shabbat
place from sunset on Friday to sunset on
Saturday
• This takes place along with there day of worship on Friday
evening

• There are 3 branches of Judaism that vary in

conservativeness, Orthodox (most), Conservative,
and Reform(least)
Hinduism
Beliefs and Practices Possible Accommodations Needed
• Hindus believe and worship a wide • When picking catering or restaurants,
range gods and goddess, which they Hindu dietary restrictions should be
believe are all different manifestations of taken into consideration
the same god
• Common gods: Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma • Time should be given for religious
observations
• Practices and beliefs are often regional
• Wide sweeping recommendations are
and can be very different challenging with the vast localized beliefs
• Diwali is a major Holiday celebrating the • General rules about religious tolerance
triumph of good over evil apply
• The worship of gods is different for each
• Karma is a common belief, with your
actions changing your next life
• Reincarnation is another common belief
• Often vegetarian and alcohol is
discouraged
Buddhism
Beliefs and Practices Possible Accommodations Needed
• Buddhist believe in the cycle of rebirth and • Buddhist dietary restrictions should be
karma considered when choosing catering or
• They teach the Buddha was the first guru restaurants
reach Nirvana, which is the state of • Buddhist are pacificist and should not be in
enlighten where you leave the rebirth cycle roles that cause harm to harm to people or
• Buddhist preach peace to all beings animals, like roles in meat production or
the military industrial complex
• They practice this by following the 8-fold
path and believing in the 4 noble truths • General religious accommodation should
be made
• Buddhist abstain from intoxicates and are
vegetarian
• Buddhist practice yoga and meditation,
but lack a strict rule set
• Buddhism often tetters on the edge of religion
and philosophy
Sources

• Class notes and prior knowledge was used for information in

this PowerPoint
• All pictures are open-sourced public property
• No AI was used in the making of this PowerPoint