By Chara Scroope
June 13, 2025
Contents
For many people, religion is an important part of an individual’s identity and the way they approach the world. It can also play a large role in people’s cultural and social lives, even if people are not actively religious. For example, religion may influence life events, such as birthdays, weddings and funerals. The cultural and personal importance of religion means that it’s an ever-present part of culture and society, both in Australia and around the world.
Studies also suggest that workplaces which consider and accommodate religious diversity have higher retention and loyalty of staff. Conversely, discrimination on the basis of religion can be linked to reduced productivity and social cohesion in the workplace. Organisations that are responsive, respectful and inclusive of religious diversity are ultimately better equipped to engage with a diverse market and workforce both here in Australia and globally.
In this article, we provide five practical ways your workplace can accommodate religious diversity to ensure a safe, fair and inclusive environment for all.
It’s natural for people to want to talk about their beliefs and practices, as religion often plays an important role in one’s life and identity. However, conventional wisdom tells us that one of the things which should never be discussed in the workplace is religion.
It is true that there may be times when expressing one’s religious views in the workplace can be harmful towards others. In other cases, comments that are innocent in their intention might be insulting, demeaning or slanderous towards people of another religion. Such conversations can be damaging towards building and maintaining an inclusive workplace.
Allowing people to express their religious identity and have respectful conversations about religion can help foster greater understanding within teams and workplaces. In order to do so, it is important to approach any discussion with sensitivity to the fact that the religion you are talking about may be an important part of a person’s individual identity.
Clothing and accessories are one of the ways people often express their identity, especially their religious identity. There are various kinds of clothing that have religious significance, such as Muslims who choose to wear a hijab or Sikhs who choose to wear a turban. Sometimes, specific accessories may have religious meaning, such as jewellery containing religious symbols, like how some Catholics wear a necklace with a crucifix. Many males who identify as Muslim or Sikh may prefer to grow their facial hair. In some religions and spiritualities, tattoos have important spiritual significance, such as in Polynesian worldviews.
Dress codes, guidelines and uniform policies that are sensitive and considerate of religious and ethnic diversity play a vital role in creating an inclusive workplace. Inclusive dress codes that are fair and flexible allow employees to meet their religious or cultural obligations while also meeting health and safety requirements and the requirements of their job. These policies can often be designed in consultation with staff who come from diverse backgrounds.
An important part of some people’s religious identity involves participating in activities, major events or rituals. These activities may happen at certain times of the year, week or each day. For example, some annual events that may impact someone’s work schedule include Pesach (Jewish), Easter (Christian), Ramadan (Muslim), Diwali (Hindu), Vesak (Buddhist), Vaisakhi (Sikh) and Summer Solstice (Pagan and Wiccan). Another example is the way religion can influence someone’s daily schedule. For instance, many Muslims set aside multiple times out of their day for prayer, while Buddhists may wish to take time out of their day for meditation or quiet contemplation.
The amount of time people may need varies depending on the activity or event. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to accommodating the needs of a religiously diverse workplace. Rather, a combination of practices helps create an inclusive workplace, such as flexible timetabling and leave arrangements.
Some of the religious obligations and activities a person may do throughout the week or day often require a suitable space. In the context of a workplace, the lack of an appropriate space means people may have to leave work to go to a place of worship to perform their religious activities. In some unfortunate cases, they may be left with no choice but to undertake religious activities in uncomfortable spaces, like the bathroom or a storage room. This can send a detrimental and alienating message to individuals that they are not welcome to express their religious identity.
The most common way companies accommodate religious diversity in terms of space is to have a quiet room (also known as a ‘prayer room’ or ‘multifaith prayer room’). This space is a quiet location set aside in a public place where people of different religious affiliations can spend time in prayer or contemplation. Various factors play a role in determining how to set up a quiet room in order for it to suit the company, staff and potential users of the space.
Different religious traditions have many practices and customs around preparing, serving and consuming food and drinks. In some cases, it is expected that someone follows dietary restrictions at all times. In other cases, some of these practices may change depending on the time of year.
In a workplace, this means that some people may be unintentionally excluded from functions if such events provide food inappropriate for their consumption, or if the event occurs at a time when someone may be fasting. Workplaces can foster a more inclusive environment through attentive and careful planning of functions, as well as offering a variety of foods that cater to different needs.
Accommodating religion at work can present challenges for both employees and employers alike. Empower yourself with knowledge from our comprehensive religious profiles, covering practices and beliefs of global religious communities. It’s free to access by subscribing to Mosaica Essentials.