Advice from Seniors: Could you please advice on how we can avoid religious activities inside the office premises. If there is any policy or any initiatives please advice. Thanks
From India, Trivandrum
1From India, Trivandrum
Hi Rajkrishna, There is no policy as such it depends on the employer or employees. Regards, Tejas
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
Hi Anuradha,
Thanks a for your quick reply. It is like that.
1. Lot of chain email which spreads across the organization which promotes people to join their personal religious activities.
2. Putting Wallpaper or any other photo's in their work stations.
3. Meetings or discussion with in the office premises on religion / caste.
These are the main things which come into my mind. As you all know that it is very sensitive thing and more over the dangerous for any organization. I would like to know how the HR will be able to handle or you can say how to avoid these activities.
Thanks
From India, Trivandrum
Thanks a for your quick reply. It is like that.
1. Lot of chain email which spreads across the organization which promotes people to join their personal religious activities.
2. Putting Wallpaper or any other photo's in their work stations.
3. Meetings or discussion with in the office premises on religion / caste.
These are the main things which come into my mind. As you all know that it is very sensitive thing and more over the dangerous for any organization. I would like to know how the HR will be able to handle or you can say how to avoid these activities.
Thanks
From India, Trivandrum
Prepare an email policy restricting personal mails, forwards etc. Also highlight the penalty for such a misuse
I think this is the personal space of the individual and better not interfere' Leave it. Be grateful there are no profanities displayed :D
If these discussions are during the lunch time, dont interfere. However, if it affecting productivity, issue a circular stating that meetings/disccusions other than related to work is not permitted during working hours.
Please realise that you cannot crub or prevent an individual from following religion. however, if this interferes with productivity, as in any other activity which hampers productivity, then treat it normally. No employee would like to be given instructions on what to do and not to do when it comes to beliefs and religion. Stay away from it.
Regards,
Anuradha
From India, Pune
I think this is the personal space of the individual and better not interfere' Leave it. Be grateful there are no profanities displayed :D
If these discussions are during the lunch time, dont interfere. However, if it affecting productivity, issue a circular stating that meetings/disccusions other than related to work is not permitted during working hours.
Please realise that you cannot crub or prevent an individual from following religion. however, if this interferes with productivity, as in any other activity which hampers productivity, then treat it normally. No employee would like to be given instructions on what to do and not to do when it comes to beliefs and religion. Stay away from it.
Regards,
Anuradha
From India, Pune
Dear Rajkrishna,
The problem you are saying, I feel is either you are not being able to express properly and if what you have written is true it is no problem at all. Look, we do allow our practising Muslim employees to go to a nearby Masjid to offer Namaz, similarly we donot allow non veg food in certain areas where the Vegetarians sita n eat, and we always allow people to take leave or leave office early during Festival days.
It does not matter, if people are exchanging willingly among themselves things relating to religion. What I have experienced is unless you have a sadhu or a maulavi, or bishop it really does not affect productivity. It is on the other hand very good if the people are religious and have the respect of God.
On the other hand if people are discriminating against each other on grounds of caste, creed, colour or race then that should be dealt with a strong hand. These cases were under control but sadly there had been an increase with the recent stupid and vindictive reservation law.
Regards,
SC
From India, Thane
The problem you are saying, I feel is either you are not being able to express properly and if what you have written is true it is no problem at all. Look, we do allow our practising Muslim employees to go to a nearby Masjid to offer Namaz, similarly we donot allow non veg food in certain areas where the Vegetarians sita n eat, and we always allow people to take leave or leave office early during Festival days.
It does not matter, if people are exchanging willingly among themselves things relating to religion. What I have experienced is unless you have a sadhu or a maulavi, or bishop it really does not affect productivity. It is on the other hand very good if the people are religious and have the respect of God.
On the other hand if people are discriminating against each other on grounds of caste, creed, colour or race then that should be dealt with a strong hand. These cases were under control but sadly there had been an increase with the recent stupid and vindictive reservation law.
Regards,
SC
From India, Thane
All,
Thanks a lot for giving a worderful thoughts on this matter.
Considering all the comments, I would believe the best idea would
1. Avoid people sending religious email - By highlighting it in policy document.
2. We should not involve more into the personal discussion, till it doesn't create any sought of problem for the organization.
3. We have to handle these things in an operational way ( such as talk to the individual and advice him not to do such things which may create problem for other people.
These are the main points which i can get from my wonderful friends.
Once again thanks a lot.
Regards
Raj :!:
From India, Trivandrum
Thanks a lot for giving a worderful thoughts on this matter.
Considering all the comments, I would believe the best idea would
1. Avoid people sending religious email - By highlighting it in policy document.
2. We should not involve more into the personal discussion, till it doesn't create any sought of problem for the organization.
3. We have to handle these things in an operational way ( such as talk to the individual and advice him not to do such things which may create problem for other people.
These are the main points which i can get from my wonderful friends.
Once again thanks a lot.
Regards
Raj :!:
From India, Trivandrum
Hi,
Some thoughts on this:-
*Religious activities are to be kept out of a business environment. There can really be no issue on this.Only every company must be neutral in its determination and application of either acceptance or rejection of a practice.
*The practice of good values can always be encouraged. There is a huge difference between religious activities and the the practice of what the religion stands for.
*All religions deal with goodness. Period. Those values can find home in any environment. The application in the real world is what is required.
*On the other hand using religion to guide how groups and people work/behave is the wrong practice of religion.
*Religion is to "realize" & not to be used as tool. In other words its an attitude that must be internalized and spiritualized into action.
*Preach less, practice those tenets at work.
* People can have their small areas of internalisation at their cubicles. That is fine. Wishing one another on religious occasions builds rapport and comradarie. But perversion or fundamentalistic issues must be taken out of the work place.
* What applies to one country , may not apply to another. But violation of human values in a work environment can have a common impact irrespective of religion. So be clear as to how to behave to which group.If you don't know, then ask.
SK
From India, Bangalore
Some thoughts on this:-
*Religious activities are to be kept out of a business environment. There can really be no issue on this.Only every company must be neutral in its determination and application of either acceptance or rejection of a practice.
*The practice of good values can always be encouraged. There is a huge difference between religious activities and the the practice of what the religion stands for.
*All religions deal with goodness. Period. Those values can find home in any environment. The application in the real world is what is required.
*On the other hand using religion to guide how groups and people work/behave is the wrong practice of religion.
*Religion is to "realize" & not to be used as tool. In other words its an attitude that must be internalized and spiritualized into action.
*Preach less, practice those tenets at work.
* People can have their small areas of internalisation at their cubicles. That is fine. Wishing one another on religious occasions builds rapport and comradarie. But perversion or fundamentalistic issues must be taken out of the work place.
* What applies to one country , may not apply to another. But violation of human values in a work environment can have a common impact irrespective of religion. So be clear as to how to behave to which group.If you don't know, then ask.
SK
From India, Bangalore
Hi All,
Some of the emp in my company are having payers in office timings and some ppl are even going out of office to offer payers on daily basis 4- 5 times.
So by seeing this activity some more emp's have started doing payers in the office and its effecting the productivity. This was noticed by the management and informed me to circulate a mail from HR to avoid this activities during the office timings to all emps in the company.
Can anyone send me the mail format to circulate in the company saying that going forward these kind of activities are not allowed.
Regards,
Anil.
From India, Hyderabad
Some of the emp in my company are having payers in office timings and some ppl are even going out of office to offer payers on daily basis 4- 5 times.
So by seeing this activity some more emp's have started doing payers in the office and its effecting the productivity. This was noticed by the management and informed me to circulate a mail from HR to avoid this activities during the office timings to all emps in the company.
Can anyone send me the mail format to circulate in the company saying that going forward these kind of activities are not allowed.
Regards,
Anil.
From India, Hyderabad
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