Recoveringthe calm

Best practice guide to prayerrooms and quiet space at work

2 Purpose of the booklet5 Preface6 Employment law6 Are we obliged to provide a prayer room?7 The Business case for prayer space8 Accessibility of places of worship9–11 Faith and prayer12–14 Creating and managing effective prayer space14–15 Prayer space design16 Purpose-built prayer space17 Case studies18 Newham General Hospital19 Guardian News & Media20 Transport for London21 Citi22 BT23 Norton Rose25 Resources

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Contents

This guide describes current best practicein creating and managing prayer space foremployees. It explores the possibilities andthe key issues around purpose-built prayerspace. It is intended for human resources anddiversity managers, and also for buildingsmanagers, developers, fitters, architects andtown planners, all of whom may find they needto be better informed of this increasinglyimportant issue. It aims to flag up some of thepotential pitfalls and offers tips for improvingthe design or use of existing rooms.

Purpose of the booklet

For further copies of this guide:tent@stethelburgas.org

St. Ethelburga’s Church had stood for fivecenturies when a bomb tore it apart in 1993.A whole side of the building was destroyed.The roof was blown off. Windows, pews,and altars were damaged beyond repair.

But despite the physical damage,St Ethelburga’s spirit survived.

Today, it is a haven of quiet at theheart of the City. Once all but obliteratedby terrorism and conflict, it brings togetherpeople of all faiths and none in peace.And just as it has come through everythingfrom the Great Fire to the Blitz, it enduresas a symbol of hope.

I welcome the contribution thatSt Ethelburga’s Centre has to make to thedebate about how we live together as adiverse society – all different, all equal,and united by common values.

It is a privilege to commend this guideto the design, creation and managementof prayer rooms and quiet space at work.No matter who we are, I believe we can allbenefit from finding a little time to reflectand rise above the daily routine. I hope thisguide will inspire many more businesses,large and small, to help people find theirown moments of refuge in a busy day.

Rt. Hon. Hazel Blears MPCommunities & Local Government Secretary

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Preface

If an employer can accommodate thereligious needs of their staff withoutinconveniencing other staff or having adetrimental impact on business, they maynow be obliged to do so. This is called the‘test of reasonable accommodation’. For amanager assessing a religious need, factorsthat should be taken into account include:

_ The cost involved_ The effect on the business_ Any possible burden or inconvenience

to other members of staff

Deciding whether a prayer room is necessaryis a balancing exercise between the needsof the employer and the needs of theiremployees. What is considered reasonablewill vary depending on the size of thebusiness, the faith balance and religiousneeds of its staff, and the ability of thebusiness to be flexible.

If employees have a need for prayer spaceand a room can be made available withouteffecting the business detrimentally, theemployer may be in breach of the regulationsif it does not do so.

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Are we obliged to providea prayer room?

The Employment Equality Regulations existto protect employees from discriminationand help ensure an inclusive environment.The regulations cover ethnic origin, gender,disability, age and sexuality. Since 2003the regulations have also offered protectionfrom discrimination on the basis of religionand belief. This has led many employers todevelop an increased awareness of issuesof faith diversity and the implications forstaff in the workplace. Many organisationsand businesses have responded by consultingwith staff to understand their faithrequirements more fully, and by reviewingand exploring policies and practices. Someemployers have taken the first steps towardscreating a work environment that is moresupportive of people of faith – perhaps bycreating a multi-faith network, markingone or two non-Christian religious festivalssuch as Eid or Diwali, or by offering a prayerroom or quiet room for their staff.

For more information on the employmentregulations about religion see the resourcessection on page 25.

Employment law

_ The fast pace of the City often has abacklash which expresses itself throughstress-related illness and burnout.Promoting a healthier approach to work-lifebalance is now seen as more productiveand more profitable in the long run. Quietspace is a way to demonstrate commitmentto a healthier and more balanced approachto work practices.

_ Research shows that a certain degreeof pressure increases productivity buta working pace or culture that pushespeople too hard or precludes regularbreaks actually reduces both productivityand creativity.

_ Providing a quiet room does not needto be costly for employers. In situationswhere demand for space is high, dual-purpose rooms are possible.

For more information on the benefits ofmeditation see resources section on page 25.

There are a growing number of valid reasonswhy it makes good business sense to offerquiet rooms for employees. For example:

_ Within our multi-cultural City and country,working with diversity is now an essentialpart of good business practice, particularlyfor larger corporations. Creating qualityprayer space offers a pro-active way forbusinesses to show commitment to equalityin diversity.

_ A good reputation for diversity and awillingness to support employees withfaith, helps to attract, motivate and retainstaff, which has a positive impact on costs.

_ Making a statement about the inclusionof people of all religious backgroundshelps to build trust and respect betweenstaff at a time when trust between our faithcommunities is of increasing importance.

_ There is a growing body of empiricalresearch showing that meditation andcontemplative forms of prayer have a rangeof measurable beneficial effects on healthand well-being (such as increasing theability to focus and be attentive, helpingto manage stress, boosting the immunesystem, and helping to combat depressionand boost creativity).

The Business casefor prayer space

Britain is historically a Christian country andthe accessibility of places of worship naturallyreflects that. However, we are a much morediverse nation than we have ever been beforeand this creates a need which is yet to be fullyaddressed. For example, the City of Londonis host to 36 churches and 1 synagogue buthas no mosques or temples or other publicplaces of worship. Yet the City supports avery diverse workforce which includes peopleof many different faiths and cultures.

Christians working within the squaremile have many options if they want tospend a quiet half hour in prayer or join acongregational service. People of other faithsare not so fortunate. Muslims in particularare at a disadvantage as their prayers areperformed at set times during the day, someof which fall during normal working hours,including the Friday congregational prayers.

It might be thought that churches couldoffer greater hospitality; yet churches arerarely adaptable as multi-faith prayers spacesbecause of legal and canonical difficulties andalso the nature of the fixtures and furnishings.Equally, the places of worship belonging toother faith groups have been designed for thatcommunity and may not necessarily be opento, or appropriate for, members of other faiths.

For City workforces in particular, thereis a distinct need for prayer spaces built formulti-faith use. Such spaces may also be seenas symbolic of the need for diverse peoplesto work and practice alongside each other forthe sake of peace and community cohesion.

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Accessibility of placesof worship

Prayer and meditation are performed indifferent ways within different faith traditions.This section gives a brief overview of therequirements of some of the main worldfaiths, concentrating on the factors whichare likely to affect the working day and showthe different ways in which prayer or quietrooms might be used by members of differentreligious traditions (and also by those withno particular faith tradition).

The Baha’i faith

Baha’is choose one of three obligatoryprayers each day: a short prayer said betweennoon and sun-set, a medium-length prayerperformed three times during the day, or along prayer that can be recited at any time.The medium and long prayers includeprostrations and all the prayers are donefacing the direction of the shrine ofBaha’ullah in Israel (South-East fromthe UK). Prayers are performed individuallyand not in congregation. Before each prayerthe hands and face are washed.

Faith and prayer

Buddhism

Buddhism tends to emphasize chanting andmeditation practices, but can also includeprostrations. When meditating Buddhistsmay prefer to be seated on the floor or on ameditation cushion to perform their practices,and appreciate quiet and stillness.

Christianity

Christians usually pray either sitting,standing or kneeling. Prayers can be offeredat any time of the day, either individually orin small groups. Some Christians will wantto share the sacrament of Communion incongregation at certain times or on certaindays, e.g. on particular holy days or festivals.During Lent Christians may be more likelyto pray, meditate or meet for Bible study,and there are also a number of fast days ordays of abstinence.

Hinduism

There are many different styles of prayer,meditation and worship within the Hindutradition and practices can vary markedlyfrom family to family. Some Hindus try topray and meditate throughout the day, butnot at specific times. Others pray three timesa day at sunrise, noon and sunset. Some formsof prayer should not be interrupted and maylast around ten minutes. Puja is a devotionalritual performed in groups, often involvingchanting, burning incense, and the lightingof small lamps or candles.

Islam

Muslims are required to pray five times aday at set times (dawn, just after mid-day,late afternoon, sunset and late evening).The exact times vary depending on the timeof year (see www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk).The Friday mid-day prayer is particularlyimportant (called jumma) and is usuallyperformed in congregation and normallypreceded by a sermon from the imam.

The prayers (called salah) are performedfacing Mecca (South-East from the UK) andtake between 5 and 15 minutes. They involvea sequence of standing, bending, kneelingand prostrating. The floor surface and

immediate environment must be clean.Often prayer mats are used which offer aclean surface and also some soft protectionfor the knees when prostrating. It is arequirement to perform a ritual ablutionbefore praying (called wudu) which involveswashing hands, mouth, nose, arms, face,neck and feet. Women and men oftenprefer to pray separately so separate roomsor some form of screen can be useful.

During the month of Ramadan, theMuslim holy month of fasting, many Muslimsare more observant with their prayers than atother times. Often the numbers of Muslimsneeding prayer space is considerably largerthan at other times in the year. The start ofRamadan moves forward every year as itoperates on a lunar calendar (for more infosee the Business of Faith publicationRamadan: Briefing notes for managers).

Jainism

Jain religious practice varies from individualto individual but can involve chanting,recitation, reading of scripture and silentmeditation. Some Jains pray at regular timessuch as before dawn, at sunset and at night.A common practice is the Navkar mantrawhich can be repeated either aloud or silentlyand may take up to twenty minutes to perform.This can be done in groups or alone. In thetemple, puja ceremonies may take placeand involve chanting or recitation. An arti

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ceremony involves lighting lamps beforereligious images, but this is unlikely to takeplace outside the temple environment.

Judaism

Jewish tradition has evolved three prayerservices for each day – morning, afternoonand evening. The latter two can sometimesbe joined together. It is preferable to pray in aquorum of 10 (called a minyan), but the prayerliturgy can also be prayed privately. A mizrah(meaning East) shows the direction of prayer.A dedicated workplace prayer room couldbe used for these prayers, but if there aresymbols or artefacts from other faithtraditions present then more Orthodox Jewsmay be uncomfortable using the space.

The Sikh Faith

Sikhs perform prayers several times a day.The morning prayer takes about forty-fiveminutes and can be done at anytime in themorning, usually between 2am and 9am. Itinvolves reciting a passage of scripture fromthe Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book,and is done alone or in groups depending onindividual preference or convenience. It isusually performed sitting, and recitation isoften out loud but can also be done silently.

The evening prayer, performed after about5pm, is similar, and takes around twentyminutes. Some Sikhs also meditate (eitherin silence or repeating the name of God)and endeavour to remember God throughthe day, by repeating the name silently.

Zoroastrians

Zoroastrians (or Parsis) have five obligatoryprayers spread throughout each twenty-fourhour period. These are performed in front ofa fire, or a symbolic representation of a fire.In addition, Zoroastrians perform a simpleritual each time the hands, face or uncoveredparts of the body are washed.

Meditation and quiet timeAlongside the popularity of yoga, meditationhas become increasingly widely practicedin this country by people with no particularreligious affiliation, either as a spiritualpractice or as an aid to mental balance. Somemeditators will be happy seated in chairswhilst others prefer floor space and cushions.A quiet environment without bright lightsis also preferable. Quiet time and reflection,for people with or without faith, may also bevery helpful in managing stress.

frequently than others (often Muslims arefrequent attenders because of the obligationto pray five times each day). Unless carefullymanaged this can create a situation wherepeople of other faiths (or no faith) feelintimidated and begin to use the room less,resulting in a space which is no longer trulyinclusive. A multi-faith committee, with linksto both HR and employee faith networks,will help to remedy this.

Sharing the space

Different faith groups may need the room atdifferent times. For example, Muslims willpray most often at the set prayer times andare likely to want to pray in congregation onFriday lunchtimes. Christian groups maywish to instigate a weekly prayer meeting,bible study or Holy Communion. Often thespace can be shared quite harmoniously byconsulting with all the user groups, agreeingtimes for congregational prayer, and makingsure they are communicated clearly (forexample a notice-board outside the room).It is important to collect regular feedbackand review the situation periodically to makesure all the room users are happy with howthe space is being allocated. If managed well,this approach can help to build understandingand trust between the different faith groupsand individuals.

The consultation process may alsoexplore possibilities for one faith groupto extend invitations to others to witnessor participate in their prayer practices.

Some employers prefer to have a policy

Consultation

It is important to know your staff – what faithsare represented and what needs they mighthave. A good consultative process will alsocreate a sense of involvement and sharedresponsibility for the space, as well as buildconsensus about how the room should bedesigned and used. It is advisable to start thisas soon as possible so that the facility startsoff as a collaboration and does not becomedominated by any one user group.

Some organisations are now buildingup data about the faith balance of theiremployees, for example through staffsurveys. If undertaken, this needs to bedone sensitively, making sure it is clear theinformation is given voluntarily and that itwill be used in the best interests of staff.

Managing prayer space

Prayer rooms need on-going managementand input to function well. Ideally multi-faithprayer rooms should be managed in aninclusive way such that all the faiths usingthe room are represented. It is good practiceto create a ‘prayer room users group’ withrepresentatives from each of the main faithgroups involved. This group can work withHR and diversity and buildings managersto make decisions about how the room is setup and publicised, and also to decide on theterms and conditions for its use. Such a groupalso serves a vital role in ensuring that thespace remains inclusive. In practice somefaith groups are likely to use the room more

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Creating and managingeffective prayer space

Monitoring and feedback

It is essential that there is some formalprocedure for monitoring use of the roomand checking it remains inclusive and istreated with respect. Clearly communicatedfeedback loops are also necessary. All usersof the space should know how to register anydifficulties or issues that come up in regard touse of the room. A comments box or book canbe helpful if users want to make commentsanonymously. A comments book will giveroom users a way to communicate with eachother (anonymously or otherwise). Contactwith the multi-faith management group ordiversity manager will give an opportunityto ask questions or raise complaints directly.

Name and language

Calling the room ‘quiet space’ rather than‘prayer space’ can make it more welcomingand accessible for people with no faith whomight wish to use the room for quiet reflectionas part of a stress management programme.However, it makes sense to decide on aclear policy about what is appropriate.Some employees may decide the room isa good place to take their laptop, preparefor a meeting or even take an afternoon nap.If you decide this is inappropriate, this needsto be clearly stated in the room’s guidelinesfor use or terms and conditions.

of only offering quiet space for individualprayer and reflection. This may make thespace less appealing to some faith groupsbut it does eliminate any difficulties thatmay arise if more small groups requestcongregational prayer time than can easilybe accommodated.

Etiquette

Different faith groups and cultures mayhave different expressions of spiritualetiquette, for example removing shoes,limiting conversation in the space, or thenecessity for the space to be kept particularlyclean. These are all things which themulti-faith management group will needto be aware of and make provision for.

Communication and ethos

Good communication is absolutely essentialto managing quiet space well. Decisions aboutthe space need to be made with the involvementof room users or their representatives, andcommunicated very clearly. For example,display the terms and conditions for useof the room, and to make it explicit how anyrules or guidelines were decided upon.Communication will build relationshipsbetween the different faith groups using thespace which will make a contribution to faithcommunity cohesion within the organisationand beyond it. It is also important thatemployees (including new employees) knowthat the room exists and its location. This canbe included as part of new staff induction.

Lighting

_ Avoid fluorescent or office-type(overhead) lighting.

_ Natural light (with blinds for privacyas appropriate) is good if available.

_ A special lighting scheme that allows avariety of moods and effects, controllableby users, is best.

_ Some users may appreciate the possibilityof allowing candle-light, although such adecision would need to be checked againstfire safety regulations.

Heating and ventilation

_ Body temperature drops during meditationso the space needs to be warm enough(or blankets or shawls provided).

_ 19 degrees centigrade is a comfortableambient.

_ Conversely, adequate ventilation can beessential depending on the room location,during times of congregational prayer ifthe room is likely to get very full.

A sense of the sacred

_ Attention to atmosphere is important.Effective interior design paying attentionto colour, fabric and light will make a bigdifference to the atmosphere of the room.

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Prayer space design

Dual-function rooms

If space is in short supply, rooms may needto have a dual-function, e.g. a meeting roomor staff restaurant can be made available atcertain times of the day. First aid rooms arealso utilised by some organisations when notoccupied for medical purposes. If the spaceis likely to be used by Muslim employees,the time the room is needed will vary asthe prayer times change through the year.In summer one or two prayers fall duringnormal working hours, in winter threeprayers. All of these will be after midday, soa room can be assigned that is used for otherpurposes in the morning. The demand forprayer space from Muslim employees willbe considerably higher during Ramadan.In some cases, an additional room may needto be provided.

Seating, furniture and accessories

_ Flexibility is important._ Some faith groups and individuals may

prefer to sit on chairs, but others willneed floor space and either prayer matsor meditation cushions.

_ A small table or altar may be appreciatedby Christian groups for Communionservices.

_ A screen or curtain to separate men andwomen may be appreciated by Muslims.

_ Furniture that can be stacked or foldedor wheeled away increases the flexibilityof the space.

_ Shoe racks are helpful._ Storage cupboards for scriptures, prayer

mats and possibly also for chairs, may needto be provided.

Religious artefacts

_ Faith artefacts (such as symbols, holybooks, prayer mats) should ideally be storedin a cupboard and put back after use. Thisallows people from all backgrounds to feelcomfortable in the space and not alienatedby the presence of other faith objects.

_ The artefacts can be donated by individualsor groups in the office as required.

This section explores some of the factors thatcontribute to the design of good quiet space.

Location

_ It is important to consider accessibilityand also likely noise levels.

_ Proximity to washrooms is appreciated byfaiths who need to wash before praying.

_ Disabled toilets can be adapted to providelow sink facilities for washing rituals.

_ Disabled access is worth considering._ Clear signposting is essential.

Orientation & shape

_ Some faiths pray facing a particulardirection (usually East or South-East).It may be important that the shape of theroom fits with that orientation, and thatthe door is not situated in that direction.

_ Muslim men and women usually prefer topray separately. Moveable screens can beprovided, but the shape of the room couldalso potentially be utilised.

Neutrality

_ It is necessary to avoid any religiousimagery rather than attempt toaccommodate all faiths.

_ Neutral colours, simple abstract designsand effective use of light can all beemployed to create a beautiful andwelcoming space.

_ Muslims and some others avoid imageryof people or animals.

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Casestudies

To the extent that the workforce is a business’smost important asset, recruitment andretention in the 21st century is likely tofocus increasingly on the quality of thetotal workplace environment, with facilitiesthat contribute to well-being moving upthe agenda as employees become morediscriminating.

Increasingly, workforces expect to beconsulted on policy and facility provision.However, in the case of buildings designedbefore an occupant has been found, it wouldbe wise to devise a strategy for locating futureprayer space on the basis of optimum location(retro-fitting of facilities so often leads to acompromise that could have been avoidedwith a little forethought).

Locations for prayer space can then betaken up on a floor-by-floor, tenancy, orwhole-building basis as appropriate, withlong term flexibility built in (for reversionto office space, for example, or provisionof additional or re-located prayer space).

Investment in purpose-built prayerspace, whether at initial building design(pre-let) stage, or at fit-out stage (assuminga suitable location had been pre-assigned),is an opportunity for a business to embodyits values and showcase its commitmentto equality.

Purpose-built prayer space Chosen to reflect differentaspects of good practice

The quiet room at Newham General Hospital,created in 2001, is a beautiful space that offersmany pointers on best practice. Extensiveconsultation with staff, potential room users,and local faith leaders was carried out at everystage of the process, from initial design tocontinued management and through to arecent extension of the space. A multi-faithprayer room users group has been set up whichallows anyone who wants to be involved tohave a voice and respond to suggested changesand to give feedback. Staff continue to beinvolved and feel a sense of shared ownershipand mutual pride in the space.

The design is neutral and uses naturallight and coloured glass to great effect. Thereis a good sized washroom and a shoe rack ina separate enclosed space within the room.Prayer mats, holy books and other religiousartefacts are stored in cupboards while not inuse, and a fold-away screen on wheels offers asimple way to divide the space where needed.A poster explains the etiquette required ofroom users.

Four congregational services are led bydifferent faith groups once a week. At thesetimes the room is closed to other users. Thisis communicated clearly on a notice-boardoutside and also published in employeenewsletters.

Newham General Hospital Consultation, involvementand shared ownership

“Consultation and continuedmanagement is the key tosuccess. Here at Newham weinvolved everyone we could,and tried to accommodateeveryone’s needs equally. Theroom has been so successfulwe have just extended it”YunusDudhwala,HeadChaplain

“The designer completelytransformed what was a drabredundant office corner intoan inviting, ambient andcalming sanctuary”Naomi Lever, Head of HR

Guardian News & Media The difference good designmakes

GNM provided a room for staff at theirheadquarters which they wanted to beaccessible to all their employees – not justpeople of faith wanting to perform prayersand meditation but also those seeking a quietfew minutes to de-stress. They went the extramile and brought in a professional designerspecialising in prayer space, to create such aroom. The designer employed Japanese-stylescreens and interesting use of light and colourto great effect, demonstrating that even with asmall space and within a budget, it is possibleto transform a quiet room into a much moreatmospheric and inviting space and still beused for prayers. Naomi Lever, Head of HR,commented: “The designer completelytransformed what was a drab redundantoffice corner into an inviting, ambient andcalming sanctuary”. The room, which ismuch valued by staff, not only supportsfaith diversity but is used as part of a stressmanagement initiative.

Room created by Quiet Room Designs

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After

Before

Transport for London have taken the faithneeds of their staff seriously and haveproduced a Faith Equality Scheme to ensurethe needs of people of faith in the workplaceare understood and responded to. One of thekey actions is to develop the provision ofmulti-faith/quiet room facilities and TfLhas demonstrated that prayer space can becreated even where space is limited. Theyhave created rooms in over 15 differentlocations across London including offices,underground stations and bus depots. Thereare currently more facilities planned as partof refurbishment plans and accommodationchanges. Where space is in short supply somerooms are by necessity dual purpose (forexample first aid rooms are utilised in somelocations). In the past, Faruk Patel, a driverfrom Woodford Green Dial-a-Ride depotsometimes used to say his prayers in theback of his vehicle. After a room was allocatedand repainted, the response from staff wasvery positive. “It’s good to know they arelistening,” he said “It means a lot to us tohave this facility”.

Citi’s multi-faith quiet room is distinctivebecause of its generous size. A large, light,airy space, almost the size of a tennis court, itboasts floor to ceiling windows overlookingone of Canary Wharf’s garden squares. Theroom, opened in 2002, can accommodateover 150 people. It is used by employees fromacross the business, and is full to capacityon a weekly basis. Features include a largeshoe rack at the entrance, storage units so allreligious artifacts can be out of sight when notin use, a moveable screen, and a commentsbook for feedback to diversity managers.Existing cloakrooms close to the prayerspace, have been converted to include a dualfunction shower, useful for Muslims who needto wash their feet as part of their ritualablutions before prayer. Cleaning staff knowto fit in an extra visit to the room after jummaprayers on a Friday when the cloakrooms areheavily used. A prayer room users group,comprised of representatives from the mainfaith groups plus Diversity managers, meetsevery five weeks to ensure all room usersare happy and feel respected. The cateringmanger from the staff restaurant also attendsthis meeting for informal feedback on faith-related dietary issues.

Transport for London Commitment evenwhere space is limited

Citi Generosity with space

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“It’s good to know they arelistening, it means a lot to usto have this facility”Faruk Patel

“A large, light, airy space,almost the size of a tenniscourt, it boasts floor to ceilingwindows overlooking oneof Canary Wharf’s gardensquares”Citi’s multi-faith quiet room

BT has created multi-faith quiet rooms inmany of its office locations. The next stepwill involve working with Facilities andProperty Managers towards a common policywhereby if a building houses over a particularnumber of employees, a prayer space willautomatically be provided. When newbuildings are acquired or existing officesrefurbished, quiet rooms will soon be factoredin at the planning stage, alongside receptionareas, rest rooms, and staff restaurants.Information about availability of prayer spacewill also be posted on the facilities web-pagesrelating to each office.

BT’s multi-faith quiet rooms aresupported by employee faith networksworking closely with Diversity Managers.BT offer a very high level of support totheir employee networks. In return theyreap the valuable business benefit of qualityconsultation on policy, rapid access toinformation about faith issues, and a strongselling point for recruitment. Each networkhas a management committee, an electedchair and must create a business plan,manage a budget and undergo an annualreview.

Any organisation that has a substantialMuslim population will need to consider thepossibility of creating purpose-built washingfacilities. Muslims are required to makeablutions before prayer (see page 10) whichinclude washing the feet. Using a standardbasin for this is perfectly possible but notideal – a sink closer to the floor with a seatclose by is preferable.

Norton Rose created their multi-faithprayer room in 2005 to offer a space for prayeror quiet time to all their staff, and also for theirmany clients who visit the offices, some ofwhom are Muslims. The room has integralwashing facilities consisting of two low levelsinks with a tiled floor and space for two seats.The room was replicated when they movedoffices to their new buildings on the SouthBank, and is much appreciated by their staff.

BT Communication & workingtogether

Norton Rose Purpose-built washing facilities

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“It is important to us to recruitthe best possible people forthe job, so offering facilitiesthat create an environment anda culture that is fully inclusivecan be a distinct advantagefor us.”Lak Purewal, Head of Human Resources

“The network has beeninstrumental in my stayingwith BT. We have achieved alot, both within the businessand also outside, throughcharity and training events.We believe we have animportant role to play helpingto counteract the mediastereotypes about Muslimsthat have been so prevalentsince 9/11. Supporting thequiet room is only a smallpart of what we do”Altaf Alim, Chair of the Muslim Network

Business of Faith publications

_ Religion and belief in the workplace:A handbook

_ Religious diversity in the workplace_ Meditation and well-being:

A guide for employers_ Ramadan: Briefing notes for managers

Links

St Ethelburga’s Centre forReconciliation & Peace:www.stethelburgas.org

The Business of Faith:www.thebusinessoffaith.org

Quiet Room Designs:www.quietrooms.co.uk

Jon Allen Architect:www.jonallenarchitect.co.uk

Employers Forum on Belief:www.efrb.org.uk

Diversity Works for London:www.diversityworksforlondon.com

Acas site:www.acas.org.uk

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Resources

Sponsored by

Barclays PLC and The Mercers Company

In collaboration with

Barts & the London NHS Trust; City CircleThe City Interfaith Forum; Diversity Worksfor London; The Employers Forum on Belief;Jon Allen Architect; Newham UniversityHospital NHS Trust; Helen Sanderson ofQuiet Room Designs; St Margaret Lothbury;St Mary-le-Bow.

With thanks also to

The City of London, Planning Department;Rabbi Howard Cooper; Mustafa Davies,(Deloitte Muslim Network); Dennis Gissing,(BT); Wakar Kalhoro; Jean-Paul Martin,(Cyril Sweett plc); Jasvinder Singh Nagra;Oliver Perceval; Krishna Pranadhika,(ISKON); Dr Atul Shah, (Diverse Ethics);Dan Silbert, (Foster & Partners); SukhbirSingh; Fiona Stewart-Darling, (DocklandsChaplaincy); Flora Winfield; Salma Yousef.

Produced by: St Ethelburga’sCentre for Reconciliation & PeaceWritten by: Justine HuxleyDesigned by: Untitled

StMaryleBowChurch

Diversity Works for London

Sponsors Collaborators