Originally published by APPG FoRB*
In parliament, the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation held a meeting with companies from around the UK along with Jim Shannon MP, Baroness Verma (House of Lords) and Brendan O’Hara MP. After brief introductions from parliamentarians, each organisation shared how they were achieving the standards of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s innovative REDI Index. The REDI Index is a standard set for Religion Equity Diversity and Inclusion within organisations to encourage a more faith-inclusive working environment.
Jim Shannon MP opened the meeting with remarks on the importance of spreading a focus on religious freedom in business to new business sectors, creating new norms and making this issue a real priority for businesses across the United Kingdom and beyond. Baroness Verma also spoke about the important of being collectively inclusive of all faith groups and shaping the narrative around faith in the workplace differently than how it is often perceived (i.e. as a source of division, contention, and hidden agendas). Instead we can recognize that showing respect for religion in the workplace is part enabling employees to be their whole selves and give themselves more fully to their work.
Emma Pace of Baringa shared how they use kindness within the organisation to promote inclusivity, including setting up an interfaith network within the organisation and advertising these efforts on their website, whilst Alex Gold of OVO shared how they fostered a multifaceted culture of belonging across metrics like gender, neurodiversity, generation, and religion. Mr. Gold also discussed OVO’s efforts (as a retailer) to hold third-party providers accountable for respect for religion in the work place as well.
Bruce Owen spoke on behalf of Equinix, stating how when you talk about faith in business it encourages a space where people can do the very best work of their careers. We also heard from Oliver Pawle, Binna Kandola and Vinrod Subramanian on the various topics surrounding FoRB and Business.
Overall, takeaways included recalling the growing evidence that business success criteria like productivity and retention are demonstrably related to freedom of religious expression at work, and the importance for business leaders to assemble and discuss contemporary challenges more often, especially as there are growing misconceptions and tensions about religious expression in the workplace. Instead, with a full focus on creating space for employees to be their full selves across religious as well as other dimensions, we can create a culture and environment of peace and productivity.
* The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is one of the Largest APPG’s at Westminster. Our purpose is to raise the profile and the general awareness of international Freedom of Religion or Belief as a human right among parliamentarians, government, media and the general public. Learn more here.
