Introduction
 Diversity can be a positive dimension that expands and enriches the work-place environment, or it can lead to increased misunderstanding, conflict and decreased productivity. Muslims, like other minority groups, often experience discrimination on the job, such as termination or denial of employment because of religious appearance, refusal to accommodate religious practices on the job, or biased behavior by co-workers or supervisors. Media and Hollywood’s reckless portrayal of Islam and Muslims for the past two decades, and nonsensical information in textbooks hasn’t helped much. One way to prevent possible misunderstanding or discrimination on the job, while improving the working relations and productivity of multi-ethnic and culturally diverse employees, is through education.

Description of Seminar: (pdf Format)
Islamic Speakers Bureau of New York (ISBNY) makes presentations specially designed for corporate employees and managers that focus on Muslims and their religious practices that might impact the workplace. With over 600,000 Muslims currently residing in the New York Metro Area, many of whom work in New York companies, this seminar provides valuable insight into their beliefs and practices. The seminar is called “Islamic Religious Practices: A Workplace Diversity Seminar.” The approximately two-hour seminar opens with a brainstorming session on common perceptions of Islam and Muslims that immediately engages the audience. After identifying the sources of many of these perceptions, we explain the reality behind many of these perceptions, and discuss Muslim practices on the job.

Typical Presentation Schedule
Two-hour outline, which can be tailored to an hour or hour and half, if needed.

1:00 p.m. - 1:05

Introduction

1:05 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

I. Common Perceptions of Islam & Muslims

1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

II. Who is a Muslim?

1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

III. Muslim Religious Practices on the Job



2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Q&A, Evaluation

Intended Audience

All corporate employees.

How to Request a Seminar

Call (212) 725-7922 or send an email to lee@isbny.org

Legal Protection of Religious Rights

Prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, religious celebrations, and dietary and clothing requirement are religiously mandated practices of the people belonging to the Muslim faith. Such bona fide religious expressions are protected by, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts required that a employer may not discriminate against a person because he/she adheres to a particular faith, and that employers must accommodate employees religious practices unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the employer. Moreover, Section 3 of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and many other states’ laws that contain provisions for employees’ exercise of religion.