Religious Diversity in the Workplace: The Case for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Abstract

The workplace is a focal point for debates about religion and public life. This article examines the question of religion at work, and how to fairly resolve the conflicts it generates. Specifically, it advocates for the use of alternative dispute resolution to address these conflicts. Alternative dispute resolution refers to a set of dispute processing methods, mainly arbitration and mediation. Unlike litigation, these procedures rely on the consent and cooperation of the parties involved. I argue that alternative dispute resolution is best conceived of as a desirable complement to the rule of law rather than a cheaper alternative. It conveys a distinctive approach to procedural fairness, which is attentive to individual circumstances, and it frames the relationship between disputants in a cooperative way. Alternative dispute resolution is thus a valuable tool for the accommodation of religious diversity in the professional world.