Most employers are confident of their ability to manage work related issues arising from the religion or belief of employees, but only one in three has an explicit policy for doing so, according to the latest CIPD/KPMG quarterly Labour Market Outlook survey.

However, the survey found that while two-thirds of organisations support people in meeting the dress code of the religion, two-thirds mention being confused about which faith days their staff will be celebrating and how.

The proportion of employers with an explicit policy is higher in the public sector (55%) than in the voluntary sector (31%), private sector services (30%) and manufacturing and production (17%).

Three-quarters of employers with a policy support staff in taking time off for religious observance. Around 60% provide staff with time or facilities for religious observance in the workplace.

Dianah Worman OBE, diversity adviser at the CIPD advises: “Employers should ensure that they have a clear policy that both removes any possible forms of discrimination and enables staff to make a fully engaged contribution at work regardless of their religion or belief.”