letters and views Editor’s note: A recent discussion on the Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online Bulletin Board dealt with idea of religion in the workplace. The debate on whether or not religion and the broader notion of spirituality belong in the workplace follows below. Posted by: Amanda Martini-Hughes 1/3/2012 Does religion have its place in the work-place? According to the article, “God Wants You To Work Harder,” by James Dennis Lorusso, there is a growing belief among advocates that says, “Bringing spirituality into the cul-ture of business will not only enhance the quality of individual working lives, but also drastically alter the broader conduct of busi-ness across the planet.” This raises the question, “What religion; all religion?” How is religion looked at in your business or facility? Are there current or past issues among differing religions in your place of work? If so, how do you deal with those issues? Is it easy or difficult for a person practic-ing a particular religion to get important religious holidays off? In a culture and society that is growing more diverse every day, is religion some-thing that should have more of a presence in the workplace? It is against the law to ask about those choices before employment. It is against our policy to discuss those choices during employment, and it is also our policy to not allow employees to advo-cate their beliefs to their co-workers during their time on the clock. It has proven to lead to numerous distrac-tions, fights and arguments that disrupt the overall workplace environment, much like politics, which is also discouraged from being pushed, discussed or advocated while at work. Our view is that we all don’t believe the same things, we all don’t vote the same way, but we all better clean the same way. That is achieved by minimizing distrac-tions, and non-work-related topics/issues is one those distractions. Ed Samson 1/4/2012 I agree with Ken: Religion is personal and should not be in the workplace. And, I can’t think of another comment that wouldn’t offend someone on one side of the aisle or the other. It is a very real part of life and comes into the workplace whether we wish it or not; it colors our communication at work, our actions at work and our relationships at work. Tim Tebow even brings it to the football field. Hoping it isn’t there won’t keep it from being a part of the experience of many of the people who work with and for us. Personally, there is no way I want to exist without religion. It is more of who I am than any other indi-vidual factor, and it influences everything I think, do and say — wherever I am. I think Amanda brings up a valid point of discussion, and I want to hear what others think about it. As we become an ever more global com-munity, you can bet that there are many we will do business with who will care very much about religion and who are not limited by any laws in asking such questions as are prohibited in our country. I look forward to more of this discussion; it intrigues me greatly. Also, there is this additional point: The quote uses the word “spirituality,” not reli-gion — which may be altogether different. It opens up a lot of room for discussion. Bring it on. Responses: Ken Galo 1/3/2012 Religion is a personal choice, and we respect the rights of our employees in mak-ing that choice. Garth 1/4/2012 You may hope to keep religion out of your workplaces, but you are avoiding Amanda’s question. She wants to know how religion is going to affect business going into the future. David Hebert 1/5/2012 Religion is manmade spirituality or believ-ing in what God says is not. Politics might as well be a religion 6 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2012
CMM – Archives Feb 2012: 6
