Freedom to practice a religion in the workplace is typically frowned upon, especially in Western countries. There are many reasons against having any religion in the office. However, there are also benefits to incorporating it into the company culture. So, let’s talk about the impact of religion on deaf employment with faith-based companies.

The Moral Compass for Religion

In previous posts, you learned how religion was the basis of law and the land. By having a religion, it was easier to navigate the modern world. Religion gives a moral compass to live a life of reverence and compassion. The role of religion in society is to create stability and unity. 

The Role of Religion in the Workplace

In developed nations like the United States, Canada, the UK, and so on, there’s no need to bring faith into the workplace. Culturally, it is something to compartmentalize. You have the freedom of religion, but it’s almost like political beliefs. Employees don’t bring it up at work. 

Many companies believe that the work environment and employees are better off not discussing religious matters. In a way, it makes sense due to cultural sensitivity and differing lifestyles. However, some companies are taking a new approach to this idea of silencing faith in the workplace. 

Faith-Based Companies

Some companies are turning into faith-based ones, like the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which even changed its code of ethics to state that they honor God and that religious expression is encouraged in the workplace, according to SHRM. The shift got surprisingly positive feedback as the company became faith-based. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the company only focuses on Christianity, even if it is the dominant religion. Instead, it invites various faiths to create an inclusive environment where the employees feel safe to express their spirituality.

The Benefits of Religion in the Workplace

There are two sides to this argument of religion being in the workplace. Some say that those matters should be kept private, much like a political opinion or disclosing your salary. But, there are benefits to having religion present in the workplace. 

Strong Ethical Environment

Anecdotally, religion can create an environment of strong ethical and moral values at work. That can create feelings in employees that there is a deeper meaning to what they do. The idea of this is to attract employers who want to build a passionate, resilient, and productive team to produce the highest quality of work. 

Open Culture

The bigger picture here is the idea of an open cultural setting. We live in a world where people from different backgrounds and characteristics gather in the same place with a common goal. An open culture can lead to more respect where employees feel safe to be themselves and practice their religious affiliation. This inclusive workplace setting creates authenticity.

Religion and Employee Well-Being

Depending on the work culture, this is where people spend most of their time. Therefore, it’s crucial to create an environment where employees feel good. Generally, well-being contributes to being a productive person and a contributing member of society. Having a space where employees are free to practice a religion that adds positivity to their lives encourages comfort and a safe space for employees.

Religion and the Impact on Deaf Culture

Religion is a uniting force among groups of people. However, deaf people haven’t always had the same experience with it. There’s been some isolation because religion uses spoken language. Therefore, deaf people didn’t have an equal opportunity to practice it.

That was until sign language was accepted into the church some time ago. That opened up a new world for deaf worshippers to gain experience and understanding of their faith. There has been more awareness of what deaf people miss from not understanding the masses. While accessibility isn’t perfect in this area, the language barrier is broken down. And although there are churches for specifically deaf people, where they have built their micro-communities. Deaf people also attend hearing churches where they feel part of a greater collective.

Faith and the Workplace for the Deaf

Is your workplace inclusive? That’s the question in the modern age. Inclusivity reflects human rights. For deaf people, the workplace hasn’t always been fair, even though there are laws to protect them from such discrimination. A way of discriminating against deaf people is, “audism.” It’s much like ageism, ableism, and so on. 

To be more inclusive, an organization needs to have awareness of different groups. Inclusivity is a long and continuous movement in the modern world. This idea includes initiatives to welcome people of all backgrounds and be more respectful. 

For deaf people, this means making the environment deaf-friendly rather than focusing on oral language. There are also several simple ways to be more accommodating toward deaf people in the office. Implementing CC (closed captioning) for training videos, announcements, and hiring interpreters.

Another big thing about deaf people is that hearing coworkers have never worked with a deaf person. There could be slight hesitation as to how to approach the situation. Dana Manciagli, the founder of Job Search Master Class, suggests being patient with deaf coworkers, and eye contact is important, especially for lip reading, which deaf people might do.

Inclusivity Coincides with Religion

The main thing that companies need to create is an inclusive environment because that encompasses different areas. Even more, it welcomes people to feel comfortable and safe at work. That is especially true for deaf people. They don’t have to feel isolated or left out of the workforce. And faith-based companies can help with that.

Faith-based companies are bringing more inclusivity into the workplace by allowing faith to be practiced in a place that otherwise discourages that. It also applies to deaf people who can feel more included in such environments. It brings everyone together, creating a more united workforce. 

For more on how religion and the meaningful impact it has on the deaf community, you can learn more at https://www.unspokenasl.com/

Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Polina Zimmerman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-plastic-chairs-and-tables-in-white-room-3778619/