Here’s a subject that divides companies:
Should they let their perceived fear of backlash from
fundamentalists outweigh their need to have workplaces
that include everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender employees? Should they allow religious-based
employee-network groups? Is it worth the effort to stop the
increasing bias toward Muslim employees in the workplace?
We have the answers for you, based on a roundtable
held in our Newark, N.J., office with the two companies
in the United States that have had the most success with
religious-employee networks—American Express and Ford
Motor Co.—and with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, LGBT,
legal and religious experts.
You’ll note this story is divided into four sections—and
you’ll find highlighted best practices you can use from
The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity®.
KHADIJA ATHMAN
Civil Rights Manager,
Council on
American-Islamic
Relations
LINDA
UMANSKY SAIGER
Executive Director,
Council on Jewish
Workplace Issues
MELINDA WOLFE
Senior VP,
Executive Talent, and
Chief Diversity Officer,
American Express
REV. RON PAGE
Pastor,
First Baptist Church
of Long Branch
LUKE VISCONTI
Partner & Cofounder,
DiversityInc
BARBARA FRANKEL
Senior Vice President,
Executive Editor,
DiversityInc
