5 Things NEVER to Say to Muslim Coworkers
With Ramadan–the holiest month on the Islamic calendar–beginning, issues of religious accommodation and cultural competency may come up in your workplace. That’s because Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States. To help you avoid offending Muslim colleagues now and throughout the year, here are five things not to say.
Want to read more in-depth information on religion in the workplace? Visit our diversity-management website, DiversityIncBestPractices.com. For best practices and legal advice on religion in the workplace, check out our Dec. 14 webinar on faith.
1. “Why can’t Muslims decide when Ramadan starts?
Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon, which varies from year to year. And like other faiths, there are interpretational differences in beliefs. “In America, there are two groups of Muslims: The first believes you can use scientific data to determine when a new moon can be sighted, and thus you can predetermine the month,” says Nadir Shirazi, creator of “The Ramadan Guide for the Workplace.” The second group, he says, “believes that you must sight the new crescent moon with the naked eye.” So the start/end dates of Ramadan, depending on the practices of Muslims in your workplace, may be different. Providing flexible hours and allowing floating holidays will permit employees of Islamic and other faiths to celebrate their holidays without using all their vacation time.
2. “Why can’t you eat today?”
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daytime hours, so scheduling office parties, fall festivals and luncheon meetings at that time “puts a Muslim coworker on the spot [and] can be embarrassing for both parties,” explains Shirazi.
Education and consideration are key. “The ideal thing is don’t schedule office parties during these times,” says Niham Awad, founding member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest civil-liberties organization for American Muslims, based in Washington, D.C. “The least thing employers can do is don’t force employees to attend these parties, with all the food and drink, while fasting.”
3. “But you don’t look/dress like a Muslim.”
With an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, to think all look and dress similarly is a stereotype. “All Muslims do not have long beards or wear white robes or hijabs,” explains Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ), a nonprofit religious, charitable and educational organization in South Brunswick, N.J. “That’s the image people see on CNN.” In reality, Islam principle specifically states that there’s no compulsion in faith. Conversely, asking a Muslim woman why she doesn’t cover her body in a black niqab or drapery is equally inappropriate. “Islam is very much a personal and private religion,” says Afia Mirza, a DiversityInc intern who is Muslim.
4. “I didn’t know you were Arab.”
This is another culturally insensitive comment. The reason: Only about 20 percent of Muslims worldwide are Middle Eastern. “Muslims are Black. Muslims are white. Muslims are senators … they’re in the White House,” says Chebli. (According to The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, three senior leaders in the U.S. government who are Muslim include: Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies; Ebrahim “Eboo” Patel, founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core [Mogahed and Patel are on the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships]; and Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn.) According to the American Religious Identification Survey, 10 percent of Muslims are Latino, 15 percent are white, 27 percent are Black and 34 percent are Asian.
5. “Why can’t you pray on your coffee break?”
Depending on the times allowed for office breaks, this comment can violate religious rights. That’s because “Muslim prayer must be done within specific time frames,” says Awad, adding that the second and third prayers are during business hours. What’s more, Muslim prayer involves standing up and bowing on the floor, which can be awkward to perform in the workplace. It’s also preferred that prayer be done in a group. Progressive companies will designate a private room or other facility for group prayer. On Fridays, when Muslims are obligated to pray in mosques and not in the office, “companies must give an extended lunch hour,” explains Awad. Companies such as Ford Motor Co., No. 44 in The 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity�®, are involving their interfaith-based employee-resource group to help give members space to share experiences and ideas of religious accommodation.
“These are not only constitutional issues,” says Awad, “but when you have a friendly work environment, you will have better performing and more loyal employees.”
3:02 pm
What about Catholics?
5 Things NEVER to Say to Catholic Coworkers?
It been say anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice.
Thanks,
R-
7:35 pm
I suggest gathering information on that suject and bring it up to editor. Im sure it exist and have read about it. Discrimination towards muslims are more wide spread in America because there are many more new immigrants in America and far wider spread of Islamaphobia .
10:47 am
Christianity has now passed Judiasm as the most persecuted religion in the world. Not Islam. More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined. This is a fact. Google it. Regardless of what sins were committed by which group in the past, we are supposed to be more civilized now. We must ALL respect each other.
8:51 am
I really don’t see it, I think people tend to be very tolerant here, to be honest, much more than Muslims are of christianity in muslim countries.
12:13 pm
What were Christians doing 500 years ago? Spanish Inquisition. Islam is roughly 500 years younger than Christianity. Just saying. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
3:14 pm
Luke
Why are you bolding your answer? can’t anyone have an opinion other that yours without you barking back? From your response, you are saying that Islam is a young religion and we should be expecting their intolerance of non-muslims now because someday they will grow up and join the rest of the world? Your comment is more extreme and ignorant. But if that is the truth, then so be it. I will remain a Catholic infidel, hated in the eyes of this young religion, waiting for 500 years to pass.
4:17 pm
I don’t know why my comments are in bold, but I’m in my own backyard, so where else would I bark?
Christianity is the world’s largest religion and the overwhelmingly dominant religion in America. There are roughly 350,000 Christian Churches and 1,200 Mosques in the United States. It would be self-destructive and unsustainable for Muslims to hate Christians. As far as who did what to whom, I’ll quote Mark Twain: “Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion—several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn’t straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother’s path to happiness and heaven.” If you keep it up, I’ll quote Thomas Paine and get all the dogs barking.
9:29 pm
Well, this is interesting. Having taught “sensitivity Workshops” I can understand how a person can become so sensitive that they become offended more easily as they became more aware. I also understand how if poked (emotionally)repeatedly even the slightest “touch” can elicit a very painful response that SEEMS overreacting.
Asking a fellow employee why they are not eating is perfectly fine. It shows genuine concern. Answer; I am fasting. OH. OK. done. No need to talk further. Could be because they are Vegan, observant Jew, allergies, concern about sanitation… Nosy co-workers are always a problem whether you are Muslin or not. No one is comfortable with intrusive personal questions. That question is not religious specific unless you are viewing the world that way. Like Woody Allen complaining the waiter is a bigot because he asked, “and what do you want to order?” “Jew want to order???”
All of your questions are coming from ignorance AND an opportunity for education. No, Muslims should not need to have to educate anyone, but if you want to be understood, it is the best way to go. Like a child asking a Black man were you burned in a fire? Because he had never seen anyone that looked like that and that was the best he could figure with limited world experience.
Catholics get these same questions. What’s that on your forehead? (on Ash Wednesday)How come you aren’t eating meat today? (Friday during Lent) You don’t really believe that the wine and bread actually turns into the body & Blood of Christ? Does you Priest have sex with little boys? Did you have sex with your Priest? Did you know the Pope is Satan? Oh, look at my sandwich… It looks like the Virgin Mary! and on. You can CHOOSE to be offended or not… even when offence was the intent of the speaker. What makes the ignorant questioner so powerful? Do not give them that power.
9:31 am
Some people are “nosy” but most of the questions toward the end of your post are blatantly offensive. In a proper workplace, the sadists among us won’t feel empowered to spout their hatred couched in seemingly “innocent” questions. I think people should confront bullies more often, but it is the job of the CEO to provide a proper environment. Unchecked, bullies cultivate conspirators and silent allies who, together, destroy productivity. If you keep your comments in the workplace focused on productivity, you’ll have a better chance of inspiring change from lackadaisical or obtuse management. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
4:01 pm
Very informative. Thank you for sharing. As a leader, knowing this information helps with employee engagement and relationship buliding.
4:05 pm
I am greatly offended at the suggestion that certain ‘groups’ get extended lunch breaks…and it becomes mandatory for businesses and co workers to ‘subject’ themselves to ‘screen’ their own comments. Excuse ..this is America and if Christians, atheists and or other denominations or groups dont get same consideration I think it is NOT UP TO THE WORKPLACE to figure it out…you know you have to work 9-5 or 4am – 2 ppm…figure it out folks…a company is NOT OBLIGATED TO let you do whatever you want when you want…because it is a religious preference’..I am a christian..I’ve never asked for special treatment at my workplace and Have never requested designated times to go pray…God, Allah, know you have to earn a living..The HOly Bible says to pray without ceasing…meaning we never stop praying..and if that includes at work..then you do it silently or when yu go home pray at home , or snyagogue or mosque or some other religious place of prayer…The work place is not it…If you have a religious holiday I suggest you take a personal day…If you dont have any take a sick day if you get in trouble PRAY THAT you get out of it
6:28 pm
If a small accommodation—an insignificant courtesy—facilitates people bringing their whole selves to work and thereby increases productivity, it’s the sensible business thing to do. I’ll say it will also make you feel more neighborly and at peace with yourself. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
10:51 pm
I can see how that would seem unfair if it is applied just to Muslims. But the point of an inclusive set of policies is that they would apply to individuals, in their individual circumstance. So if a working mother needs a longer break to pump breastmilk for her child, then she would be accommodated too. Or if a parent of any gender needs to check on their child, or a child check on an aging parent — they might also really benefit from a longer lunch break. Or maybe you’d like to take a class, to enhance your job skills — and for that you might need a couple off hours off in the middle of the day. There are many reasons employees might really benefit from flexible scheduling.
And the employer can really benefit too, because the employee would be able to work with their whole selves and with their whole energies — without the significant distractions of other things that might be going on in their lives.
And in most office jobs it really wouldn’t be hard to make an accommodation for >anyone< who needed it – as long as they worked longer to make up for it. In some jobs, flexible scheduling is something the employer really needs — for doctors or nurses, for technical support or customer service with customers all over the world, etc.
So yes, "special privileges" for a certain group seems unfair. But accommodating the needs of your employees benefits everyone.
And by the way, most Christians do get accommodations too: practically the whole country shuts down at Christmas, a religious Holiday, and many employers shut down for a week. And if you "have to work" that day, you generally get extra pay or extra time off.
10:46 am
Guess what? Life isn’t fair. We teach our children this and yet many seem to forget it.
I am amazed by mankind’s intolerance, and hatred towards others. Wouldn’t we all be happier and healthier if we just treated others as we would like them to treat us?