Human Resource Dilemmas 1. In the law firm of Milton, Madden & Herman (“MM&H”),

Question

Human Resource Dilemmas

1. In the law firm of Milton, Madden & Herman (“MM&H”), a request has been filed by two Sikhs to wear turbans. Although MM&H’s dress code does not speak to this issue, MM&H decides to prohibit this attire. How would you advise the Sikhs to proceed?

2. At Prestige Motors, Muslim employees request to pray on their personal rugs on the factory floor during breaks. Prestige states this is disruptive to the work environment. Instead, Prestige assigns them space in the cafeteria. Co-workers complain that the Muslims’ enunciation of their prayers is disrupting the co-workers’ ability to converse during lunch. How would you advise Prestige to proceed?

3. Hillsdale Savings Bank displays a menorah and a Christmas tree during the holiday season. Maria McDougal, a teller, brings a small nativity scene for display. The bank manager refuses to display it for fear of offending non-Christians. After McDougal writes to the bank headquarters, she is terminated. How would you advise her to proceed?

Explanation / Answer

Human Resource Dilemmas:

1. Issue:

MM&H has decided to prohibit the attire that affects the religious sentiments of Sikhs working there.

History of Sikhs:

Sikhism is a religion that originated in 1500-1600 in India. It was founded by the first Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is a peace-loving religion which believes in One God and it does not matter how you pray to him, by which name you call him and where you pray to him in this religion.

Turban is one of the five most important things that are mandatory for every Sikh to wear. If I believed that it is their connection with their gods.

Interpretation:

MM&H's decision is, in simple words, hurtful and wrong. They decided to implement their decision without analysing why the turban is so important to their employees. It was an ignorant decision on the part of the company as without doing any prior research they decided to ban the outfit. If it is not in their code that does not make it wrong. In this global village world of ours, we should be respectful towards others cultures and religion.

Advice:

My advice to Sikhs would be to drag the company in court if a less subtle move does not work. Firstly, Sikhs should try to make the company understand why it is important and what value it holds to them. The company should understand that the appearance of a worker doesn't affect its performance.

If the less subtle approach does not work then the courts are always open and nowadays there are many cases on which exemptions have been made in a tradition or procedure on a religious basis.

2. Issue:

Muslims's enunciation of their prayers in the cafeteria is disturbing the co-worker's ability to converse with each other.

History:

Islam is the world's largest religion with the Quran as a holy scripture. It has two religious places in Mecca and Madina. Islam is a peace-loving religion as evident from the Quran even though many terrorist groups try to portray it otherwise.

Interpretation:

Muslims were praying on the factory floor during break hours which disrupted the workflow. When they were assigned a place in the cafeteria to pray the other co-workers started to complain as the enunciation disturbed their ability to communicate.

Solution:

First of all the co-workers should be sensitized to other people's religion. They should be compassionate about other people's beliefs and religious views. To maintain a peaceful environment and to avoid any undesired outcome, the company should build a praying room where Muslims can pray in peace and it will not disturb other workers as well. The sensitizing co-workers is an important activity also that should be undertaken by the company.

3. Issue:

McDougal, a bank employee was fired for complaining to headquarters about the discrimination on a religious basis.

History:

Christianity was created by Jesus who was put up on the cross by Romans. The Bible is the holy book of Christians and Jesus is considered the Messiah and son of God by Christians.

Interpretation:

During Christmas time, a bank displayed many Christians related item but when an employee belonged her religious artefact to be displayed from other religion, the bank manager refused to display it. When she complained about it to headquarters, she was fired.

Solution:

It is the case of discrimination against the employee on the basis of her religious beliefs. Festival of one religion doesn't downgrade the religious artefacts of other religions. The bank and its employees should be trained so that they can show understanding and compassion towards different religion and consider everyone equal. The lady should get her job back by making the management understand why she did what she did and even if it doesn't work then she can approach court as it is clearly a discrimination case.

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