Leading with Understanding: How to Respect Religious Observances on Your Team
While finding common ground is essential for team cohesion, true leadership lies in understanding and respecting our differences. A crucial aspect of this is acknowledging the impact of religious observances and holidays on your team members.
Many religious holidays are observed worldwide, and their impact varies. Some require employees to be out of the office, while others involve observances from sundown to sundown. Still others may involve fasting, dietary restrictions, or other practices that affect an individual's work life.
Historically, clusters of religious holidays often occur twice a year, roughly between February and April, and again between September and November, in addition to end-of-year holidays in December. Fortunately, calendars are readily available years in advance, and you can collaborate with your IT team to integrate these dates into shared calendars.
Here are some practical tips for leaders and colleagues to accommodate diverse religious practices:
Proactive Planning & Communication:
Individual Check-ins: Initiate a 1:1 conversation with each team member at the beginning of each quarter to understand potential time away or specific observances they may be observing. This allows for proactive planning and demonstrates respect for their individual needs.
Team Coverage: Develop a system for team coverage to ensure colleagues can support each other during periods of observance. This fosters a collaborative and understanding environment.
Mindful Scheduling: While conflicts are sometimes unavoidable, be mindful of scheduling team meetings or activities on key religious dates. Proactive planning can minimize disruptions.
Shared Calendar: Share a calendar of religious observances with your team to raise awareness and create a safe space for open communication about potential impacts.
IT Integration: Work with your IT team to integrate these dates into Outlook or other shared calendars. This ensures everyone is aware of upcoming holidays and can consider them when planning strategic meetings and large-scale events.
Breaking Down Taboos:
Many of us have been taught not to discuss religion in the workplace. However, we don't need to make these topics taboo, nor do we need to pry into anyone's personal beliefs. Open and respectful communication is key.
A simple statement in a 1:1 meeting, team meeting, or even an email at the start and mid-year can be very effective:
"Hi Team: As we begin the new year (or start planning for the coming year), I want to acknowledge that there are a range of religious observances and key dates that shift from year to year. Please see the upcoming dates below. We want to ensure that team members who observe these holidays have the necessary coverage and that we consider these dates when planning team offsites, large-scale meetings, etc. Please feel free to talk with your direct manager or me if you have any questions."
The Impact of Acknowledgement:
I've advised numerous organizations and leaders to implement this practice, and the feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the employer's acknowledgment of these holidays and their desire to balance work commitments with their observances.
Proactively addressing religious observances demonstrates consideration for the values and commitments that may impact your team members' schedules. It reinforces your company's commitment to flexibility and an inclusive and respectful culture. It's not just good management; it's effective leadership.
