Religion observance the key to avoiding disruption

Employers
must review holiday and leave policies to ensure they reflect the diverse
religious needs of their workforce, according to occupational psychologists
Pearn Kandola.

Specialising
in diversity, development and assessment, Pearn Kandola is urging employers to
check that their policies are fair, inclusive and in line with new anti-race
discrimination legislation introduced by the Government last year.

The
legislation makes discrimination against employees on the grounds of religious
belief or faith unlawful, and where possible, employers have to allow people
time off for religious observance.

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With
more than 105 religious festivals taking place in 2004 and 40 million Christians
and 2.9 million Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs in the UK (according
to the National Census 2001), Pearn Kandola advises that all managers should be
issued with religious calendars so that they are prepared for leave requests.

By
Roisin Woolnough