Author(s): Dr. Edwina Pio

Diversity | Religion

The book investigates religious diversity and suggests how business leaders can script success in their policies and practices by taking into account the growing workforce of minority religions in their organisations.

Five diversity megatrends are discussed: Increasing global mobility and growth of 'non-traditional' migrants in Western countries based on changing demographic patterns; Religious growth with multiple religions, including minority religions diffusing historically religious monopolies; Changing corridors of commerce such as BRICS, Asia Pacific and halal billion dollar markets; Human Rights and the fusion of sacred and secular with accommodation and good faith - a more pressing requirement in organisations; and the whole self at work or 24/7 lives. While diversity has always been part of the mix of Aotearoa New Zealand, until recently it could be discounted as it affected only a few. Now there is a blurring of boundaries between the secular and sacred for many individuals, or people of the diaspora who belong to faith traditions such as Hinduism, Islam, Indian Christianity, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.

The findings clearly indicate the need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of religious diversity in the workplace, in particular a world of cooperation, good faith and respect where organisations craft and implement policies and practices acknowledging the porosity between the sacred and secular. The careful and comprehensive research analysis within Work and Worship documents how business leadership within New Zealand welcomes the growing community of minority religions to their working organizations.