Albany Medical Center
Albany Medical Center is the only
academic health sciences center in the 25
counties of eastern New York and western New
England. The Medical Center incorporates the
631-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital, one of
upstate New York’s largest teaching hospitals;
the Albany Medical College, which was founded in
1839 as one of the nation’s first private
medical schools; the Albany Medical Center
Faculty Group Practice, staffed by about 350
full-time clinical faculty members of the
Medical College; and the Albany Medical Center
Foundation, Inc., one of the largest
fund-raising organizations in the region.
Albany Medical Center
was looking for an unusually in-depth
method of identifying pay inequities within
their organization. Astron Solutions answered
their need by developing a customized Pay
Compression Analysis that went far beyond the
industry standard. This project has garnered
successful, in-depth results for the HR team.
Deck
the (Office) Halls...
Holiday Sensitivity and Celebration in the
Workplace
The holiday season is upon us,
and in today’s multicultural workplace
environment, it no longer means simply putting a
menorah next to the Christmas tree. Christmas,
Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and Bodhi Day all
occur during the fall/winter season, and while
world political tensions rise, religious
sensitivity issues can rise too. It can be
challenging for employers to show fairness,
employee appreciation and holiday spirit, and it
may be tempting to pull the plug on holiday
celebrations. However, there are ways to
celebrate the season with sensitivity,
understanding and respect.
Religious diversity is on the
rise in today’s workplace according to the
results of the
Survey on Religion in the Workplace.
The survey
conducted by SHRM and the
Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious
Understanding reveals that more than one-third
(36%) reported that there are more religions
represented in their workplace compared to five
years ago. “Religious diversity is an emerging
issue in the workplace, driven by powerful
demographics,” said Dr. Georgette F. Bennett,
Tanenbaum Center President. “EEOC complaints
have risen by 24% over the past five years, so
now is the time to be proactive.”
Keeping this in mind, there are a
number of religious and cultural holidays that
your employees may observe during the season.
In order to encourage understanding of each,
they are listed here, with a short description.
Christmas
– The most recognized and celebrated holiday
occurs on December 25, the day that marks Jesus
Christ’s birth. Over 3 billion Christians
worldwide celebrate the holy birth by engaging
in various customs and traditions, including
singing, gift-giving, and gathering with family
and friends, and praying.
Hanukkah
– “The Festival of Lights” celebrates the
victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of
the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC, and the
miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
During the eight nights of Hanukkah, candles are
lit in a menorah, which holds nine candles: one
for each night, plus an extra used to light the
other candles. Hanukkah celebrations includes
performing traditional songs, enjoying fried
foods, gift-giving, and praying.
Ramadan
– Ramadan, the ninth month of the
Islamic calendar, which was celebrated this past
mid-October, celebrates the first revelations
given to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims fast
during Ramadan, health permitting. They do not
eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual activity
until sundown each day, using the daytime to
concentrate on their faith, rather than on
everyday concerns. The fast concludes with
feasting, gift-giving, and praying.
Kwanzaa
– Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a
professor at California State University,
Kwanzaa is a cultural, rather than religious,
holiday celebrated from December 26 through
January 1 by many African-Americans. The word,
Kwanzaa, is Swahili for “first fruits of the
harvest” and involves gathering family and
friends to discuss and commit to seven guiding
principles. Each day, a candle is lit
signifying a principle - unity,
self-determination, collective work and
responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose,
creativity, and faith. A feast is held on
December 31 for remembering, reassessing and
rejoicing.
Bodhi Day
– Bodhi Day, which is usually observed December
8th, or the Sunday immediately
preceding it. To celebrate the day, according
to Mahayana tradition, of prince Siddhartha
Guatama’s realization and presentation to his
fellow seekers of the Four Noble Truths. From
that point forward, he was referred to as the
Buddha, the enlightened one. Buddhists
celebrate by stringing colored lights which
represent the pathways to enlightenment, feast
on traditional foods and greet each other with "Budu
Saranai!" means loosely "May the serenity of the
Buddha's be yours!"
End-of-the-year company
gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to thank
your employees, while encouraging religious and
cultural sensitivity and understanding. The
following suggestions should be helpful when
planning holiday festivities:
· The
Tanenbaum Center for
Interreligious Understanding’s article “Holiday
Celebrations in the Workplace,” recommends that
employees are asked for input during the
planning process. They should also be
encouraged to bring in decorations, and to share
foods and holiday traditions.
· Mike
Hyter, President and CEO of multicultural
consulting company, Novations/J. Howard &
Associates, reminds employers to be aware of
certain food and drink restrictions, in the
HR.com article “Diversity
at the Holidays.”
He recommends that employers
“be conscious that alcohol at parties may make
some people uncomfortable, and offer vegetarian
alternatives.” Employers should also be aware
of any fasting, dietary restrictions or
scheduling conflicts due to religious
observance, prior to planning.
· Make
all holiday activities voluntary. Not all
employees may feel comfortable celebrating, or
may not be able to join in according to
religious beliefs. Jehovah’s Witnesses, for
example, do not celebrate holidays.
Non-participation should not be penalized or
viewed negatively.
When handled with sensitivity and
respect, workplace festivities can result in an
uplifting combination of unity, cultural
understanding and joy for your team, which is
truly a celebration of the spirit of the season.
