Introduction

In this independent project paper I will write about diversity in the workplace, but not any
kind of diversity, I will emphasize my research in religious diversity in the workplace. As a lot of
us know, diversity is a big deal when someone has to work with people from all around the
world, people that are somehow different, with different cultures, different ideologies, and
different religions, and that is why my paper will be directly about religion because is a topic that
a lot of people refuse to deal with. I will also write about major issues and problems, how
religion affects the workplace, and to find out how different companies deal with the different
religions and its rituals. I will also discuss about how Target as an organization has tried to deal
with the diversity in the workplace by using an especial policy regarding the topic. Finally, I will
try to come up with recommendations to implement plans for programs to be more effective
when religion is an obstacle to hire someone because no one should be discriminated because of
their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
History
The history about diversity in religion takes us all the way back in history, even before
the American continent was discovered. Once the American continent was discovered the
pilgrims came to America, and they came because they were being chase in Europe because of
their religious believes. Once more and more immigrants came to America, they were
introducing more and more religions into the country, and therefore diversity in religion was
introduced in America.

During the movement of the civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s, not only the fight
against racism was taking place, in addition to that fight, a fight against differences in religion
took place, and the immigrant Jews as well as many Americans joined the cause (Balmer).
Overview of the topic
Diversity in religion is a topic that not a lot of people want to talk about because they
believe that is something that should not be important, but is really important especially in the
workplace. According to David Gibson, the American workplace is getting more religiously
diverse. And with such an increment, people have to try to work together leaving the differences
aside, but with this increase in diversity, discrimination increases as well.
Major issues/problems
As mentioned before, the diversity of religion in the workplace has been increasing
rapidly, but with the increment in religious diversity, an increment in discrimination comes as
well. Some studies David Gibson revealed, show that one half of workers believe that Muslims
experience a big discrimination, and in my opinion such discrimination comes after the heart
breaking events that occurred in September the eleventh of 2001. This terrorist attack turned on a
hate towards the Muslims, but in reality it does not make sense because people are just basing
their hate in a stereotype because not everyone is the same. Another problem that deals with the
diversity of religion is the dress code. Dress code for many religions is a rule that cannot be
disobeyed, but people judge those whom their believes require them to dress a certain way, and
sometimes that can affect their chances of getting a job because sometimes companies also have
a dress code that must be followed, and as hard as it is, sometimes the reaction people get from
these kind of inconvenient are very exaggerated because the only solution to that is to work
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together in a solution so no one will get offended. Another problem that can be found in
religious diversity is the celebrations or rituals each religion has. Usually the celebrations or
rituals that are part of a religion are not part of other religions, and that affect drastically the
workplace because for example: Muslims have a rule that they have to pray certain number of
times a day, and that might or might not prevent them to accomplish their goals at work on time;
everything is possible if coordination and distribution is taken seriously but again, people will
see that just like a crazy thing to do and immediately will believe that Muslims just like to waste
time, and that can be a major problem in the workplace because that creates undesired conflicts.
In the textbook, it says that religious beliefs prohibit or encourage work behaviors, and
also generates misperceptions and negative feelings. All of this is linked because as I mentioned
before, all the religions have their rules and beliefs that must be follow and that sadly always has
an altercation when it comes to the workplace.
Religious Diversity in Target Corporation
Religious diversity in the workplace is very important to study and know everything
about it because as a manager is important to deal with the different situations and problems that
can represent at the time of hiring someone or working with someone. One of the things that
always should be in a managers mind is how religion works. Religion works in different ways
depending in what religion the person practice or how well the person is involved into the
religion.
In the textbook, there is an example that shows one of the situations a manager can be
involve in with a person that is a Christian that follows all the religions rules as well as a
conservative Jew that follows his/her religion rules too. Some conservative Jews believe that
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they do not have to work on Saturdays, and some Christians believe that they do not have to
work on Sundays (Robbins).
Religious people tend to believe that they have the obligation to show their beliefs in the
in the workplace (Robbins), but that will make things awkward around the workplace. As an
example of a company that feels that diversity in every single aspect is important for all the
organizations is Target Corporation. Target Corporation is a company that offers more than only
groceries, electronics, and clothing, Target is a company that is well involved in the community,
and helps the environment providing volunteering works (corporate responsibility).
Since Target is a company that is involved in the community, is important for them to
show that diversity is something that every person should be well aware of, and as part of
Targets career, culture is a very important division. As part of welcoming different cultures,
Target states the following: What's it like to work here? We're asked that a lot. Target respects
and values the individuality of all team members and guestsand we have lots of fun in all that
we do (Culture). As part of Targets commitment with diversity, Target also have stated that they
feel that every individual is different their own way and that is what makes the company
stronger, and all those differences are reflected in race, language, gender, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, age, religion, etc (Culture). Target might have a good intention with all of these they
are trying to promote here, but the problem with all of their beautiful statements and policies
regarding diversity might not be well received by all the people in the workplace.
Targets policy regarding religious diversity is no immune against the critics because as
everything else around, it is not flawless. The major flaw such policy can have is discrimination
from outsiders. People in the workplace will think that these policies are only a way to give

special treatment to people with different religious views, incrementing the possibilities of major
problems inside the workplace, and that is why a manager should know how to deal with this.
In 2013, Target faced a lawsuit that was sued by three Latino employees because they
said racist documents were found (Bashin). Apparently the company distributed some memos to
managers of a store with racist comments about Latinos, and the problem here is not really the
racism involved, the problem here is that Target needs to do more training and meetings to
address the topic of diversity in general because although a policy for diversity was mentioned
before, it appears that Target is not doing a good job promoting it because it does not make sense
to hire a bunch of diverse people when they are not going to be welcome.
Recommendations
First of all, the main thing to do while addressing the problem of religious diversity is to
train or better said prepare the managers that will be in charge of leading and hiring people
because if the managers are not trained, they will not know how to manage a situation where
knowledge about the topic is necessary. We have to have in mind that a manager or company
cannot address religion on an application or an interview (Recruiting specialist).
According to Kate McFarlin from small business.com, religious diversity in the
workplace should be managed by training all the employees, provide time off to employees for
religious reason, encourage employees to accept differences, avoid overreaction, and adopt a
non- tolerance policy. McFarlins way of treating religious diversity is very well made but there
is nothing different that other sources have not told yet, and although there is no much to say
about the solutions about this topic, I will provide my way of dealing with this situation.

Personal Recommendations for managers and employees of a company dealing with

diversity, especially religious diversity are the following:
-Train managers and all personnel by teaching them the different religions that exist.
-Different dress codes a religion require their followers to have because this definitely
will help when a person has to work with certain garment.
-Appropriate things regarding the religion because is important to know what is bad or
not in a religion; this is just a method to not offend anybody.
-Know the holidays of the religions because some religions have mandatory holidays.
-Teach tolerance because is important to have a good relation with the people that
surrounds you.
-Ask the employees their religion needs.
-Make everybody your friend because as hard as it can be, that person is someone that
will be working with you on a regular basis, so why not start a friendship and stop resting in
worthless stereotypes to stop once and for all the religious diversity discrimination as well as
other diversity discriminations.
Conclusion
Religious diversity in the workplace is a topic that everyone should be aware of because
is important to know as a manager or as a company in general how to deal with religious
diversity without falling into discrimination. Some companies like Target Corporation have
policies regarding diversity, but it has flaws because it does not help some employees from

certain stores that work in a diverse environment to get along with each other. Everybody should
stop thinking about stereotypes and stop the hating against each other so the harmony in the
workplace will be kept and the company as a whole would be a success.
Interview
What you think about diversity in the workplace?
-It is incredible how Target has a diverse working team, and I find it amazing to work
with people from different part of the world as well as people with different religious beliefs.
What do you think about diversity of religion in the workplace?
-It is ok, employees from different religions are happy and work well together.
Do you think that in the Target store you work in respect the diversity of religion?
-Yes
Is there a problem regarding diversity inside the store you work in?
-Yes. Hispanics are the ones that does more work than others, but other than that
everything is fine.
What would you do to improve your workplace regarding diversity?
-Treat everyone equally, and divide the work equally too.
___________________________
Perla Gallo (Target employee) - Interviewee

References
Balmer, Randall. Religious diversity in America. Teacher Serve. January 9,2009. February 26,
2014. <http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/reldiv.htm>
Bashin, Kim. Target Reminded Bosses Not All Hispanic Employees Eat Tacos, Wear Sombreros:
Lawsuit. Huffpost. July 9,2013. March 3,2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/target-multicultural-tips_n_3566873.html >
Corporate Responsibility. Target Corporation. March 3, 2014.
<https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/>
Culture. Target Corporation. March 3,2014.<https://corporate.target.com/careers/culture>
Dutt, Jill. Workplace Diversity. The Washington post. May 1, 2006. March 3,2014.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/discussion/2006/04/26/DI2006042600705.html>
Gibson, David. Religious diversity is increasing at the office, and so are pitfalls. Religion news.
August 29,2013. February 26, 2014.<http://www.religionnews.com/2013/08/29/religiousdiversity-is-increasing-at-the-office-and-so-are-pitfalls/>
McFarlin, Kate. How to manage religious diversity in the workplace. Chron. February
26,2014<http://smallbusiness.chron.com/manage-religious-diversity-workplace-10718.html>
Recruiting specialist. How to manage religious observations in the workplace. America s job
exchange. February 26, 2014. <http://www.americasjobexchange.com/employer/employerarticles/religion-in-the-workplace>
Robbins, Stephen, Mary Coulter. Chapter 4: Diversity Religion. Management. 11th edition, 2012
Print.
Wuthnow, Robert. America and the challenges of religious diversity. New York Time. October 2,
2005. March 3, 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/books/chapters/1002-1stwuth.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>