Scottish Catholic Observer

Close to one million British workers have reported facing discrimination in the workplace because of their religious beliefs.

According to a report published by the Faith Research Centre at ComRes, the figure amounts to three per cent of the total workforce. The survey asked respondents from across Scotland, England and Wales about their experiences of workplace harassment, bullying and discrimination, both personally or of witnessing it taking place, without expanding on the definition of discrimination.

17 per cent of British workers say they have seen workplace bullying, discrimination or harassment happening to someone else, while 16 per cent said it had happened to them personally, with both surveys noting three per cent of these incidents were on the basis of religion or beliefs.

However, UK workers also reported to ComRes incidents of un-declared discrimination. One worker said that during training on how to handle stressful situations they ‘didn’t feel able to say that I usually pray at times like that,’ for fear of making others ‘feel uncomfortable.’

“In our office, everyone is very respectful of minorities and would never be disparaging about women or people with disabilities, but when it comes to religion it’s fair game. People can be very insulting, especially when they express it through humour,” noted another comment. The report also suggested that better reflection of workplace belief diversity could be encouraged through informal workplace behaviours, such as listening to co-workers and learning what impacts negatively on their ability to express their identity while at work.

The ‘Monday morning conversation’ could see people hold back on things they did at the weekend if they feel others would be made uncomfortable or unable to understand, or could feel excluded by assumptions about what individuals do in their spare time, for example drinking alcohol at the weekend.

Almost half of those who attend religious services on a regular basis (117 or 984 respondents) said they spoke about their religion or beliefs often or every now and again, while overall the figure was 26 per cent.

35 per cent of all those asked said that personal beliefs or religious practices were never discussed in the workplace—with 33 per cent saying this was because there ‘does not appear to be anyone who adheres to a religious belief working with them.’

The report also noted areas where provision was overcompensated for, leaving individuals uncomfortable, including one commenter who noted that in a meeting special food was provided and a prayer room created, despite the person not eating Halal or using prayer rooms, leaving the person ‘uncomfortable that they’d gone to so much unnecessary effort,’ with their good intentions making the individual feel ‘excluded and very different to everyone else.’

This story ran in full in the April 7 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.