religious bias in the workplace: an employee perspective
an original Tanenbaum research report

Religious bias is a reality of the workplace and of increasing concern to the workforce.  It’s also a productivity issue for management. In a recent nationwide study surveying 675 employed persons including Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Shintoists living in major metropolitan areas within 47 of the 48 contiguous states, almost half of those reporting experiences of discrimination stated that their performance was adversely affected.

 
key findings

This exploratory study showed that:

• When asked about specific behaviors that are discriminatory in nature, 66% of all respondents reported that, although it may not have been directed at them, some form of religious bias or discrimination was present in their workplace.
  
• Two-thirds (67%) of all respondents reported being troubled or at least somewhat concerned about religious discrimination in the workplace.
  
• One in five (20%) respondents either experienced discrimination themselves or
  knew of a co-worker who experienced discrimination on the job as a result of religious prejudice.
  
• Fifty-five percent (55%) of all respondents, regardless of religion, believed that religious bias and prejudice occurs in the workplace.
  
• Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim respondents not only experienced religious bias, but expected it.
  
• Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims are the least comfortable and most vulnerable groups within the workplace.  Of these groups, Muslims are the most vulnerable.
  
• Seventy percent (70%) of the Christians surveyed felt that problems related to religious and racial bias in the workplace were serious ones.  This level of concern exceeded that exhibited by the Study Group. (While Christians made up almost 30% of the total survey group, the majority of those surveyed, designated the study group, were Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Shintoists.)
  
• Not only did Jewish respondents report the lowest degree of discrimination, lower even than the Christians, but Jewish respondents also reported the highest level of comfort on the job. 
  
• Eight of ten (80%) respondents reported that their company provides personal days that may be used for religious holidays, but only four of ten reported that their company provides materials explaining their policy on religious bias. This indicates that clearly stated and implemented company policies are needed to diminish the perception of discriminatory behaviors as accepted and/or tolerated. Thus, programs that can deal effectively with religious diversity in the workplace are an increasingly important tool.
   
  In responding to the survey, participants indicated that their work performance suffered as a result of religious discrimination, while others considered quitting because of discriminatory experiences. As competition for workers continues to increase, such experiences of bias and discrimination and their impact on the workplace indicate that continued work in this area is warranted.

In short, this survey indicated that in order to derive the greatest benefit from today’s diverse workforce we need flexible policies, attentiveness to and respect for religious and racial diversity, intolerance of all forms of bias and prejudice and proactive stances toward hearing and addressing the concerns of all workers, both native and foreign-born.
 

about this study

A major strength of this exploratory study is its respondent diversity.  There was broad geographical and demographic coverage with respondents from all company sizes, educational levels, and workforce roles. Close to 30% of those surveyed were Christian.  The other respondents, the Study Group, were made up of Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Shintoists.

This study pioneered the data on religion at work, characterizing some of the emerging concerns of America’s new workforce. As such, it has clarified some of the work that remains to be done by American companies.

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