The document discusses expanding diversity in the workplace by addressing religious and cultural challenges. It provides case studies and recommendations for accommodating religious practices related to appearance, travel, gender interactions, meals, scheduling, conversations, and life events. The objectives are to increase religious competency, empower career services professionals to minimize challenges for religious students, and develop a more inclusive community. Resources on sustained dialogue and understanding different faiths are also shared.

2. Expanding Our Diversity Toolbox
Chaim Shapiro
Touro College
chaim.shapiro@touro.edu
Aisha Ghori Ozaki
Allstate Insurance
aghor@allstate.com

3. Agenda
• Introduction
• Religion in the workplace
• Unconscious bias
• Case Studies
• Resources

4. Learning Objectives
• Increase religious and cultural competency in order to provide
greater awareness and understanding of religious challenges
faced by students and colleagues in the workplace;
• Empower Career Services professionals to assist students of
various religious beliefs to minimize professional and
workplace challenges and achieve career success; and
• Develop a broader professional community of differences that
embraces the richness of religious practice and diversity.

5. Want to see a religious challenge?
• Try pronouncing this name:
• Chaim

6. • One Example:
• What Would YOU Do?

7. Discussion Topic
APPEARANCE

8. Poll Question
What is the name of this head covering?:
1. Hajji
2. Hijab
3. Beret
4. All of the above

9. Recommendations
• Make sure that others understand that there are
varying levels of religious observance and that co-
religionists should not be judged based on your
standards and vice versa
• Be open to share information about your religious
appearance (when appropriate/if comfortable)

10. Discussion topic
Travel

11. Poll Question
Which of the following are religious travel challenges?
1. Carrying a religious dagger
2. Head Coverings
3. Holiday Travel
4. All of the above

12. GENDER
Discussion topic

13. Poll Question
Which of the following can pose religious gender
challenges?
1. Interview Rooms
2. Late Night Meetings
3. Handshakes
4. All of the above

14. Offer options that are reasonable and inclusive
Make it a practice to ask interviewees if there is a preference/need
Don’t make assumptions
Recommendations

15. Discussion topic
Meals

16. Poll Question
What do these symbols mean?:
1. Healthy
2. Halal
3. Kosher
4. None of the above

17. Kosher and Halal/Zabiha
Symbols

18. The Restaurant Experience

19. Recommendations
• Attempt to find out what meal options are/aren’t
available (don’t assume people know what you may
need)
• Ask interviewees/students if there is have a food
restriction (religious or otherwise) and attempt to make
an accommodation

20. Discussion Topic
SCHEDULING
• Holidays
• Time of day
• Socializing after work

21. Recommendations
• Always accompany requests for accommodations
with an expression of willingness to make up
hours, work hard, compensate for any missed time
• Set a precedent through hard work and being a
team player before making requests, build capital
so that management is more likely to
accommodate

22. Discussion Topic
CASUAL CONVERSATIONS
• Appropriateness
• Religious representative

23. Discussion Topic
LIFE EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS

24. So, what can we do?
• December Dilemma
• You CAN’T Be Serious: 911 Funerals
• PC But NOTHING For Me
• Faith Based Evangelism

25. Advice for Students
• Be ready and willing to explain why you need an
accommodation instead of leaving it as a “religious
observance” without further elaboration
• Refer others to campus ministries or human
resources for further concerns about accommodating
religious requirements

26. Advice for employers
• Always be respectful. If a name is difficult to
pronounce, ask for clarification and make an effort.
This conveys respect and interest.
• Attempt to gauge what a candidate/employee may
need and if you aren’t sure, please ask.
• Try to keep in mind that some locations and venues
may be more difficult for particular faiths; office
locations may be preferred.

27. Take Another Look
 What Would YOU Do # 2?

28. Additional Resources
Conversation options:
Sustained Dialogue
Civic Reflections
Knowledge sessions
Tanenbaum –Center for Interreligious
Understanding

29. Stay in touch!
Chaim Shapiro, M.Ed
Assistant Director
Office of Career Services
Touro College
718.252.7800 ext 375
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chaimshapiro
Aisha Ghori Ozaki
Manger, Inclusive Diversity
Allstate Insurance
aghor@allstate.com – 847.402.8090
www.linkedin.com/in/aishaghori