Catherwood LibraryILR School

Expressing religious beliefs at work can be uncomfortable, due to a sense that it’s unwelcome and impolite. Religious diversity can also cause workplace conflicts, as when Cargill Meat Solutions fired 190 Muslim immigrants who argued against break policies which conflicted with prayer time, or when an applicant is turned down for a job at Abercrombie because of her headscarf. While not as widespread as more traditionally secular offerings such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), companies are adding chaplaincies as an employee benefit that reduces turnover and stress-related illnesses, and offers emotional support services for crises that can be more personal than most hotline-based EAPs. Most commonly seen in privately-owned small and medium-sized businesses, Tyson Foods is the largest example of a public company that offers chaplaincy services, based on a corporate belief that people should be able to “bring their whole selves to work.”