Lately in religion / workplace news: product design and advertising take the top spot!
Sharia-compliant investing: The British treasury plans to back sharia-compliant bonds to help London become a global gateway for Islamic finance. (While you’re at it, check out our recent post on sharia investing and 401Ks).
Sikh model breakthrough: Cobbler Kenneth Cole’s new ad campaign “We All Walk in Different Shoes” features Sandeep Singh, a Sikh model.
Crisp-labeling debacle: Muslim groups in the UK call on Walker Food Company to add labeling to crisp packets (known as “potato chips” to us Yanks) stating that the crisps contain trace amounts of ethyl alcohol, so that devout Muslims will known which flavors to avoid.
Fear of the occult: The UK hits the news again for banning a TV ad for a Hindu religious pendant, claiming that it “violates codes which do not allow the promotion of the occult, psychic practices and exorcism.”
On this side of the pond, the U.S. Congress is again considering the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, a piece of legislation that would raise the bar for employer’ claims that a religious accommodation would be an undue burden. This isn’t the first time WFRA has been kicked around – will 2008 be the year?