Diversity Calendar
difference 2007 & equality
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Defining diversity The 2007 Diversity calendar reminds us of the main religious celebrations and special days and reflects upon the issue of age especially in the light of recent legislation. But diversity is about much more than this. Our attitude to diversity determines the way that we view and relate to others
we meet and work with. A working definition might be ‘Diversity is the word used to describe the relative uniqueness of each individual.’ Our uniqueness includes our skills, interests, experience, values and ambitions. Each of us is rich with possibilities.
The Diversiton calendar seeks to encourage all of us to value the possibilities in each other and explore the opportunities that difference brings.
January 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Age Discrimination did you know...... • The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 came into force on the 1st October 2006 in the UK and it is now unlawful to discriminate against all employees, job seekers and vocational trainees on the grounds of age. • Eight out of ten young people feel that age discrimination is widespread.
& equality
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
• One in four people aged 50-69 have experienced age discrimination when working or looking for work.
difference
Monday
Week 4
Week 5
Special Days
New Moon
1st
2nd 3rd
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
New Year’s Day/Hogmanay (Secular)
5th
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh)
23rd
Vasant Pancami/Saraswati Puja (Hinduism)
Bank Holiday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales/ROI)
6th
Epiphany (Christian)
28th
Honen, Memorial Day (Buddhism)
Shogatsu Gantan-sai (Shinto)
7th
Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Christian)
29th
Ashura (Islam)
Bank Holiday (Scotland)
14th
Lohri (Makara Sankranti) (Hinduism)
Ganjitsu begins (Japanese)
16th
Shiran, Memorial Day (Buddhism)
Mahayana New Year (Buddhism)
19th
Sultán (Bahá'í)
Ganjitsu ends (Japanese)
20th
Al Hijra (New Year) (Islam)
Islam Muslims have five main religious duties known as the Pillars of Islam: (1) Belief in one God (Allah) and in Muhammed the final prophet; (2) Prayer five times a day; (3) Giving to charity; (4) Fasting from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan; (5) Pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a life time, for those who are able).
Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammed (570–632 CE) to be God’s final messenger to mankind. Islam's scripture, the holy Qur’an, is a record of revelations received by Muhammed from God through the angel Gabriel. Muhammed taught his followers to pray five times a day. Before prayer, Muslims prepare themselves by washing their face, arms and feet. When praying they face Mecca and recite passages from the Qur’an. Mosques are
built so that Muslims can congregate for prayer. The prayer hall has a space, called a mihrab, indicating the direction of Mecca. To keep the Mosque clean Muslims remove their shoes before entering. Men and women sit separately during prayer. On Fridays a special sermon is given by a leader of the congregational prayer (the Imam). Ramadan is the month of fasting and is followed by the festival of Eid al Fitr.
February 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Age Diversity • Many people today are achieving new goals well into their 80's and beyond.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
Week 5
• Everyone is different and age is not a good indicator of how people differ.
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Week 6
Week 7
difference & equality
Week 8
Week 9
Special Days
New Moon
2nd
3rd
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Candlemas (Christian)
7th
Mulk (Bahá'í )
20th
Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
Imbolc - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
8th
Parinirvana - Nirvana Day (Buddhism)
21st
Ash Wednesday (Start of Lent) (Christian)
16th
Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism)
Lughnassad - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others)
18th
Losar (Buddhism)
Tu B'Shevat (Judaism)
Chinese New Year Confucian/Daoist/Buddhist (Chinese)
Setsubun (Shinto)
Birthdate of Sri Ramakrishna (Hinduism)
Buddhism Buddhism comes from the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama who was born in a princely family in India during the sixth century BCE. Leaving behind a life of luxury, he searched for an answer to the question of human suffering. Siddhartha found enlightenment through meditation and became known as the Buddha or enlightened one. The essence of the Buddha’s early preaching focused upon the Four Noble Truths:
(1) The truth of suffering – Life contains pain and suffering; (2) The truth of the cause of suffering – Suffering comes from ignorance, attachment and hatred; (3) The truth of cessation – It is possible to become free from suffering by understanding and preventing its causes; (4) The truth of the method – Following the method that Buddha realised.
Buddhists do not believe in God the creator or God as an outside force in their lives. Meditation and experience are central to the spiritual journey. Buddhist scriptures are called Pitakas (baskets) and date from the first century BCE. These sum up Buddhist teachings and practice. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that materialistic life ties people to a continuous cycle of birth and death. By living the Four Noble Truths, Buddhists seek to free themselves from this cycle.
March 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Age Myth No. 1 Chronological age determines health and brings illness and disease Exercise, nutrition, alcohol intake, smoking and many other lifestyle factors influence health. Although the risk of certain diseases does increase with age, there are many positive actions that can be taken by individuals and employers that can reduce these risks and, increasingly, health screening may play a crucial role in avoiding preventable diseases. Chronological age is not, therefore, the most important determinant of health.
difference & equality
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
Week 9
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Special Days
New Moon
1st 2nd 3rd
4th
St David's Day (Christian) Alá (Bahá'í) Period of fast begins (Bahá’í) Hanamatsuri (Buddhism) Magha Puja (Buddhism) Gaura Purnima (Birthdate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu) (Hinduism) Hanamatsuri (Shinto) Period of fast begins (Bahá’í) Holi (Hinduism) Purim (Judaism)
17th 19th
20th 21st
First Quarter
Hola Mahalla (Sikh) St Patrick’s Day (Christian) St Joseph's Day (Christian) St Patrick's Day (NI/ROI Bank Holiday) in lieu of 17th Period of fast ends (Bahá’í) Bahá (Bahá'í) Feast of Naw-Rúz (Bahá’í New Year) (Bahá'í) Ostara - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
25th 26th 27th 31st
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Mabon - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others) Spring Equinox (Others) Shunbun No Hi (Shinto) Norouz (New Year) (Persian/Zoroastrian) Anunciation (Christian) Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) Rama Navami (Hinduism) Maulid Al-Nabi (Birthday of Muhammed) (Islam - Sunni) Mahavirya Jayanti (Jainism)
Christianity Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Old and New Testaments. Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and in the existence of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the creator of the world; God the Son, the redeemer of the world; and God the Holy Spirit. Christians try to live
their lives according to the message of unity and love proposed by Jesus. Christianity is a worldwide religion with around 1,800,000,000 followers organised in many different traditions and structures. It is also the main religion in the UK and Ireland in terms of numbers of followers and the length of its
historical presence. It has significantly shaped the history and modern life of these islands, including their legal structures, public institutions, and cultural inheritance.
April 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Age Myth No. 2 The gradual death of brain cells throughout life results in older people becoming less mentally able, less flexible and more forgetful The body produces 10,000,000,000 non reproductive nerve cells and normal loss throughout an entire lifetime is estimated to be only about 2.5%. This is not a significant factor in mental capacity even in advanced old age and its widespread use to explain common errors and lapses in concentration or memory is inaccurate.
difference & equality
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Special Days
New Moon
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Maundy Thursday (Christian)
13th
Vaisakhi (Sikh)
21st
Feast of Ridván begins (Bahá’í)
Hanuman Jayanti (Hinduism)
Good Friday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales/ROI Bank Holiday)
23rd
St George's Day (Christian)
3rd
Pesach (Passover) (Judaism)
Good Friday (Christian)
28th
Jamál (Bahá'í)
5th
Maulid Al-Nabi (Birthday of Muhammed) (Islam - Shia)
1st
Palm Sunday (Christian)
2nd
Therevada New Year (Buddhism)
6th
8th
Easter Sunday (Christian)
9th
Jalál (Bahá'í) Easter Monday (England/NI/Wales/ROI Bank Holiday)
Hinduism Hindus believe that there is one Supreme God who, being unlimited, has many forms, both male and female. One of the most popular forms of God is Krishna (“the most attractive person”). Hindus consider the names of God to be non-different from God and chant these names, as mantras, for purification. Lord Shiva is worshipped by his devotees as the powerful universal
force and he is always accompanied by his consort Shakti (“energy”). Hinduism has many scriptures, mostly written in Sanskrit. The most famous Hindu scripture is Bhagavad-gita (the Song of God), which teaches that all living beings are eternal and spiritual by nature. Bhagavad-gita also teaches how to develop love for God and his creation. Hindus believe in reincarnation
– that after this life we will take birth again. They also believe in karma – that what we do in this life determines what will happen to us in our next life. The goal is to escape the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and to return to the spiritual world. Hindus believe that all creatures are spiritual by nature so traditionally lead a life of non-violence and will not eat meat, fish, or eggs.
May 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Age Myth No. 3 Older adults have difficulty adapting to change Older workers in general, do not have difficulty in adapting to change. Indeed, often by virtue of their age, they have extensive experience and learning of adapting to change. It is however generally accepted that most people will respond more positively to change in the workplace if it is managed and communicated effectively.
difference & equality
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
05
Week 18
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Special Days
New Moon
1st
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Nrsimha Caturdasi (Hinduism)
7th
Early May Bank Holiday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales/ROI )
27th
Beltane - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
17th
Azamat (Bahá'í)
28th
Spring Bank Holiday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales)
29th
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá'í)
Samhain - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others) 2nd
First Quarter
Wesak (Buddhism) Feast of Ridván ends (Bahá’í)
Zartusht No Diso (Zoroastrian)
Ascension Day (Christian) 23rd
Declaration of the Báb (Bahá'í) Shavuoth (Judaism)
Pentecost/Whit Sunday (Christian)
Bahá'í The Bahá'í faith was founded in Persia (Iran) during the nineteenth century. In 1844 Mirza Ali Muhammad (the Báb) proclaimed himself the forerunner of a new messiah. His followers faced persecution and thousands were martyred. In 1850 the Báb was executed for heresy. The Báb had identified Bahá’u’lláh as the Promised One foretold by all the world’s religions. Bahá’u’lláh suffered greatly and spent years in prison.
He was finally exiled to Palestine (Israel) and was buried near Mount Carmel, now a place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís. Bahá'ís believe in the essential unity of the world’s great religions, and that God has revealed himself through a series of Divine Manifestations including Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, Muhammed, Zoroaster, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'ís believe in human unity, elimination of extremes of wealth
and poverty, universal education, gender equality, and harmony between science and religion. Bahá’u’lláh set out principles and systems for administration and forbade the establishment of a priesthood. Bahá'ís pray daily, observe nine major holy days and fast for nineteen days every year. They regard their work as worship and are dedicated to the abolition of prejudice. Sacred texts include the writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
June 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Age Myth No. 4 Older adults find it harder to learn new information and skills The capacity for older adults to learn new information is no different to that of their younger colleagues. The majority of individuals over 65 show no signs of cognitive impairment. Older adults will, however, like all workers benefit from training tailored to their individual needs.
Saturday
01
02
Week 22
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Week 23
Week 24
difference & equality
Week 25
Week 26
Special Days
New Moon
First Quarter
Full Moon
3rd
Trinity Sunday (Christian)
16th
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan (Sikh)
24th
Rahmat (Bahá'í)
4th
Bank Holiday (ROI)
21st
30th
Asala (Buddhism)
5th
Núr (Bahá'í)
Litha - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
7th
Corpus Christi (Christian)
9th
Feast Day of St Columba/Colmcille (Christian)
Yule - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others) Summer Solstice (Others)
Guru Purnima (Hinduism)
Last Quarter
Judaism Jews believe in one God, the creator and ruler of the universe, who has a special relationship or Covenant with the Jewish people based upon the promise made to Abraham “I will be your God and you will be my people”. Worship centres on the synagogue, which is governed by its congregation and usually led by a rabbi. Jews observe distinctive dietary laws and special holy
days. The largest forms of Judaism are known as Orthodox, Reform and Progressive, each having its own traditions. Jewish people should pray three times daily – morning, afternoon, and evening – with additional prayers on Sabbaths and festivals. The Sabbath is on Saturday as a reminder of God’s day of rest following the creation of the world. It is a day of family
celebration and prayers. Jews have many festivals including the Feast of the Passover (Pesach) each spring to recall the escape of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is held in autumn and is the anniversary of the creation. The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, are days of fasting and penitence.
July 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Age Myth No. 5 Older workers don’t like training The evidence is that training tends to be substantially concentrated on younger people and older workers are often not offered training. Career development planning is also seen as only relevant to younger workers. Older workers are sometimes sent on courses which do not take account of the knowledge and skills that they have - which may seem pointless. Training and training methodologies need, as with all workers, to be relevant and appropriate.
difference & equality
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 27
Week 28
Week 29
Week 30
Week 31
Special Days
New Moon
6th
First Quarter
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Birthday (Buddhism)
16th
Ratha Yatra (Hinduism)
23rd
Birthday of Haile Selassie (Rastafarian)
9th
Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá'í)
24th
Tisha B'Av (Judaism)
12th
Bank Holiday - Battle of the Boyne (NI)
29th
Guru Purnima (Hinduism)
13th
Kalimát (Bahá'í)
15th
St Swithin’s Day (Christian)
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Sikhism The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak in India in the fifteenth century CE. The word “Sikh” means pupil or disciple. Guru Nanak believed in the universality of God and listened to Hindu and Muslim teachers. He taught respect for all religions and viewpoints. Guru Nanak became the first of the ten gurus (teachers) in Sikhism, whose writings form the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikh place of worship is called
the Gurdwara. Guru Nanak taught the three precepts: “kirit karna” to earn one’s living honestly; “vand shakna”, to share with others; “nam japna” to recite God’s names and to always remember him. Sikhs believe that salvation can be achieved through doing one’s duty to the family. Sikhs wear five symbols, the “Five Ks”: • Kesh (hair): Sikhs don’t cut their hair or
beards. Men usually cover their hair with a turban and women with a headscarf • Kanga (comb): secures the hair and symbolises self-discipline and hygiene • Kirpan (sword): signifies defence against injustice • Kaccha (shorts): a symbol of modesty • Kara (bracelet): worn on the right wrist to act as a reminder of Sikh duty
August 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Age Myth No. 6 Older workers take more time off work Data shows that, in terms of frequency of absence, older people are absent less often. They show lower levels of the short term/non-certified absence which can be so disruptive for employers, than younger people. It is true that when older people are absent, it tends to be more serious and longer term but, overall, this evens out resulting in no significant rise in sickness absence lost with age.
difference & equality
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
Week 31
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 32
Week 33
Week 34
Week 35
Special Days
New Moon
First Quarter
20th
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Asmá (Bahá'í)
1st
Kamál (Bahá'í)
10th
Farvardigan begins (Zoroastrian)
2nd
Lughnassad - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
11th
Lailat-al-Miraj (The Prophet's Night) (Islam)
13th
O-Bon begins (Japanese)
24th
Radha Govinda Jhulan Yatra (Hinduism)
Imbolc - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others)
15th
Assumption (Christian)
25th
Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian)
16th
O-Bon ends (Japanese)
27th
Summer Bank Holiday (England/NI/Wales)
19th
Farvardigan ends (Zoroastrian)
28th
Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)
6th
Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland/ROI) Transfiguration (Christian)
No Ruz (Zoroastrian)
Jainism Jainism was founded in India in the sixth century BCE by Vardhamana Mahavira, the twenty-fourth of the Jinas (conquerors). The Jinas are the religious leaders on whose example the Jain principles are based. A central practice of Jainism is ahimsa – nonviolence to all living creatures – this is based on the understanding that all souls are equal. Mahavira, whose name means
“great hero”, renounced a life of luxury to become a monk. He would always sweep the path in front of him to avoid accidentally stepping on insects or other small creatures. Mahavira taught that this life of renunciation was the only means to achieving enlightenment and to escape the cycle of birth and death. Most Jains today honour these teachings by supporting
charity and adhering to five principles of living: 1. Satya: truth 2. Aparigraha: avoiding over-indulgence 3. Brahmacarya: chastity 4. Asteya: rejecting theft 5. Ahimsa: mental, verbal and physical non-violence.
September 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
01
Age Myth No. 7 Older workers are less productive There is no evidence to support the deeply entrenched view that productivity of workers generally declines. The evidence from Age Positive companies like Marks & Spencer, B&Q, Asda, Nationwide Building Society, Lloyds, TSB and HSBS shows that their sales have gone up whilst staff turnover has fallen.
Saturday
Week 35
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Week 36
Week 37
Week 38
difference
Week 39
& equality
30 Week 40
New Moon
Special Days
First Quarter
4th
Sri Krishna Janmastami (Hinduism)
15th
Ganesh Caturthi (Hinduism)
5th
Birthdate of Srila Prabhupada (Hinduism)
19th
Sri Radhastami (Hinduism)
8th
Izzat (Bahá'í)
21st
Fall Equinox - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
Paryushana-Parva (Jainism) 11th
Ethiopian New Year's Day (Rastafarian)
13th
Start of Ramadan (Islam) Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
Ostara - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others) 22nd
Yom Kippur (Judaism)
23rd
Shubun No Hi (Japanese)
27th
Full Moon
Mashíyyat (Bahá'í) Sukkoth (Judaism)
Last Quarter
Equality 2007 Diversiton has grown over recent years to benefit employers and employees alike by encouraging a deepening understanding of what equality and inclusion really mean. Our work in companies and organisations increasingly takes account of the impact of immigration and rapidly changing demographics, resulting in a more ‘global’ workplace.
that of living in a world where 850 million people go to bed hungry every night and one in ten children never sees her third birthday. We will look at the challenge of addressing poverty as part of our wider equality and inclusion work. If you or your organisation would like to keep up to date on this or share your ideas, then please see www.diversiton.com/equality2007
Throughout 2007 Diversiton will be exploring our greatest equality challenge,
Finally, as a non profit making body we are grateful for the recognition of our work to
date through awards, government funding and increasing sponsorship. We are particularly delighted to have the active support of so many leading organisations across so many sectors in this year's calendar. A huge 'thank-you' to each one. Our hope is that others will follow the lead taken by this year’s sponsors and supporters and partner us in our ongoing work. Please display your calendar and refer to it often. Many thanks. Des McCabe, Chief Executive
October 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Age Myth No. 8 Older Workers are more likely to have accidents at work The accidents older workers do have tend to be different to those of younger workers. They are, for example, more likely to experience sprains or falls – whereas younger workers are more likely to have accidents involving tools or machinery. However research suggests that, overall, younger workers may have a higher accident risk.
difference & equality
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 40
Week 41
Week 42
Week 43
Week 44
Special Days
New Moon
First Quarter
5th
Simchat Torah (Judaism)
20th
Birth of the Báb (Bahá'í)
9th
Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power) (Islam)
21st
12th
Navaratri (Start) (Hinduism)
Ramachandra Vijayotsava (Dussehra) (Hinduism) Laxmi Puja (Hinduism)
13th
Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) (Islam)
25th
16th
Ilm (Bahá'í)
28th
St Simon and St Jude (Christian)
Durga Puja (Hinduism)
29th
Bank Holiday - Halloween Weekend (ROI)
18th
31st
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Samhain - Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others) Beltane - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others)
Food for thought 1 850 million people are desperately hungry and malnourished in our world; 300 million of them are children. 2 In the impoverished nations of the world, 1 in 10 children dies before her third birthday. 3 Globally a billion people live without clean water. 4 Every day 30,000 people die of
starvation. That’s one every 3 seconds. 5 If we provided a good nutritious lunch every day for every child in the planet, we would transform life on our planet. 6 The global AIDS pandemic has intensified world hunger - farmers in Africa are dying or too ill to plant food. Many regions in Africa are left with only the old and the young. By 2020 it is
estimated that one-fifth of the agricultural labour force in Southern Africa will be lost. Aids is both a cause and a consequence of hunger. 7 In a world of astonishing scientific, technical and economic capability, Africa practises primitive farming methods.
November 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Age Myth No. 9 Older workers are not as physically strong Physical strength and endurance is very specific to individuals of any age and is influenced by a range of job related and lifestyle factors. Performance of physically demanding jobs may very well, for example, result in the maintenance of the muscles required to do that job. Some older workers will, therefore, be more physically able than younger workers.
difference & equality
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
02
03
Week 44
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Week 45
Week 46
Week 47
Week 48
Special Days
New Moon
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
1st
All Saint’s Day (Christian)
10th
Govardhana Puja (Hinduism)
26th
Day of the Covenant (Bahá'í)
2nd
All Soul’s Day (Christian)
12th
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá'í)
28th
Ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá (Bahá'í)
Anniversary of Crowning of Haile Selassie (Rastafarian)
15th
Shichi-Go-San (Japanese)
30th
St Andrew's Day (Christian)
23rd
Qawl (Bahá'í)
4th
Qudrat (Bahá'í)
24th
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh)
9th
Diwali (Hinduism) Diwali (Jainism) Diwali (Sikh)
Birthday of Guru Nanak (Sikh) 25th
Christ the King (Christian)
Kenya A young boy very sick with malaria stood before me. He was, I would guess, around 14 years of age. It was a blisteringly hot day and he had walked for hours, by himself, to get to the place deep in the Bush where our clinic was held. He had a rampant temperature and my job was to cool him down. I poured a tumbler of water from the supply on our Land Rover and handed it to him. He took a number of gulps until his eyes met mine over the
glass and he noticed the perspiration dripping down my face because I was so unused to the high temperature. Then that boy, who was burning up and had made his journey without water, lifted the glass from his lips and stretched out his thin arm to offer it to me. In the bowels of the slums of Nairobi was an elderly nun in a tiny hut with a small stove. Each morning she made porridge and each
evening she made soup. Children with both parents or their remaining parent dying of AIDS, would arrive each with a bowl to collect the results of her cooking. Then they would hurry back to their tiny makeshift huts and their grateful, dying parents to eat this food that kept them alive. I learnt that week in week out, year in, year out, that food was quietly paid for by an Asian businessman who was known to no one but the nun. Pauline McCabe
December 2007
diversiton
respecting diversity in the workplace
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
01
Age Myth No. 10 Older workers tend to have poorer sight or hearing Sensory abilities such as sight and hearing do tend to deteriorate with age. However this varies between older adults and in most cases suitable aids can be used or adjustments made to negate any detrimental effects.
Week 48
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Week 49
Week 50
Week 51
difference
Week 52
& equality
Week 53
New Moon
Special Days
20th
First Quarter
2nd
First Sunday of Advent (Christian)
5th
Chanukkah (Judaism)
Eid Al-Adha (Islam)
8th
Bodhi day (Buddhism)
Yule Wicca/Neo Pagan northern hemisphere (Others)
Immaculate Conception (Christian) 12th
Masá’il (Bahá'í)
18th
Hajj (Start) (Islam)
Gita Jayanti (Hinduism)
Litha - Wicca/Neo Pagan southern hemisphere (Others) 25th
Christmas Day - Bank Holiday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales/ROI) Christmas Day (Christian)
26th
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Boxing Day - Bank Holiday (England/NI/Scotland/Wales/ROI) Zartusht No Diso (Zoroastrian)
30th
Holy Family (Christian)
31st
Sharaf (Bahá'í) Omisoka (Japanese) Hogmanay (Others)
“Pixel Shift Productions Ltd. produces a range of specialist films on equality and diversity. The response to the Age Discrimination DVD which was developed with Diversiton has been excellent. The Diversiton calendar is a superb resource for all organisations.”
'A core element of policing is about embracing diversity to ensure that we are able to provide the most effective service to everyone in Northern Ireland, that is why the Police Service of Northern Ireland are once again delighted to be associated with the 2007 multi faith calendar'
Stuart McQuade Chief Executive
Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable Police Service of Northern Ireland
Acknowledgements Diversiton works closely with public, private and voluntary sector organisations throughout the UK and Ireland. We are particularly grateful for the ongoing input of Sponsors, Partners and Supporters who make this calendar possible. Thank you. Accord Housing Association Alzheimers Society Antrim Borough Council Ards Borough Council Arts Council of Northern Ireland Ayr College Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust Belfast City Council Belfast City Hospital Trust Berkshire College of Agriculture Birmingham Chamber Training Limited Breathing Space Ltd Bridgnorth District Council British Council British Red Cross Castlereagh College Causeway Health & Social Services Trust Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Craigavon & Banbridge Community Health & Social Services Trust Craigavon Borough Council Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure Down District Council Dungannon Borough Council Eastern Health & Social Services Board Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association Eversheds Forth Valley NHS Four Counties Training Ltd General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education Health & Social Services Council Home First Community Trust Intertrade Ireland Ireland Poland Cultural Foundation Leading learning and skills (LSC) Motherwell College Moyle District Council National School of Government Newry & Mourne Trust Newtownabbey Borough Council Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission North & West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust North Down Borough Council Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education
www.pixelshiftproductions.tv
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Omagh District Council Openreach Osborne Properties Our Lady's Hospice Oxford University Library Services Pixel Shift Productions Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Portsmouth Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility PSNI S&D Training South Norfolk District Council South Ribble Borough Council Southern Health & Social Services Board Trinity Training Services University of Teesside Westcare Business Services Special Thanks to the University of Ulster
Development and production of the calendar has been co-ordinated by Celine Cunningham, Damien Maddalena and Des McCabe. Special thanks to Lal Krishna Dasa and Pauline McCabe for editorial support. Did you know that you can • link to the calendar from your website at no cost? • purchase additional copies of the calendar at £6/€10 each? • include your organisation in the 2008 calendar simply by ordering some calendars in advance? Please contact
[email protected] or tel. 028 4175 4777 Produced by Diversiton www.diversiton.com Designed by Elucidate Consultancy www.elucidate.co.uk Published by New Activity Publications www.newactivity.com
Dedication The 2007 Diversiton calendar is dedicated to Dr Beman Koshravi who cherished difference and was an inspiration to all whose lives he touched. He died in 2006.
Directory
diversiton
Northern Ireland respecting diversity in the workplace
Des McCabe
[email protected] Celine Cunningham
[email protected] 37 Church Street, Warrenpoint, Co Down, BT34 3HN Tel 028 417 54777
diversiton Scotland
respecting diversity in the workplace
Victor Spence Tel 0131 228 8146
[email protected] Fiona McLeod Tel 0131 553 3854
[email protected] Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, Peace & Justice Centre, St John's Church, Princess Street, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ
diversiton Ireland
respecting diversity in the workplace
www.diversiton.ie Richard McQuillen Tel 00353 86 241 3502
[email protected] Jimmy Ryan Tel 00353 86 259 7275
[email protected] 12 Tudor Drive, Clonmel, Tipperary, ROI
diversiton
England & Wales respecting diversity in the workplace
Mike Lee Tel 01922 647696
[email protected] Breathing Space Ltd, Central Hall, Ablewell Street, Walsall WS1 2EQ
Kenneth Rodney Tel 01384 456166
[email protected] Centre for Equality & Diversity, 16A Stone Street, Dudley DY1 1NS Mark Waistell Tel 01395 567789
[email protected] Accent International, Bicton College, East Budleigh, Devon EX9 7BY Rowena Galloway Tel 023 80440866
[email protected] EQM Ltd, Kingsway House, 194 Athelstan Road, Southampton SO19 4DJ Laurence Harvey Tel 07734 701004
[email protected] Actuate Learning & Development, Spencer House, 3 Spencer Parade, Northampton NN1 5AA Rana Johal Tel 07939 549620
[email protected] Sangam Solutions, 212 Staines Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 2UW Deborah Rensburg Tel 01903 741 878
[email protected] Business Style, 31 Concorde Close, Storrington, West Sussex RH20 3JL
Support for trainers As well as delivering a wide range of in-house training courses and consultancy support, Diversiton also provides the UK’s leading training resources on ‘Age Diversity’ and ‘Religion and Belief’ for trainers. Age Diversity The best selling DVD, ‘Age Diversity - myths, regulations and best practice’ has been produced in conjunction with Pixel Shift Productions and is available for just £299 +VAT.
2 New DVD Releases for January 2007 from Pixel Shift Productions Ltd. “Religion & Belief in the Workplace” and “Check Up” based on Diversiton's booklet for Healthcare Organisations. Age Diversity The Age Diversity Special Trainers pack includes a PowerPoint presentation, trainer’s notes and 50 page delegate manual for Diversiton’s one day course. At the special price of just £395 per organisation, this is the most cost effective, professional and practical way to train all staff in the new laws.
Religion and Belief Diversiton’s training package on ‘Religion and Belief’ is used by hundreds of organisations nationally and is also available at just £395. The award winning half day course which deals with religious discrimination in a refreshing and straightforward way is the UK's leading diversity training programme.
To request your copies of the above products (with our 14 day money back guarantee) please call 028 4175 4777 or email
[email protected]
Major Sponsors
“Openreach is absolutely committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and individual contributions are recognised and appreciated. We are delighted to be a Major Sponsor on the 2007 Diversiton calendar.”
Andrew Jones, MD Operations North, Diversity Champion, Openreach
Partners
Ards Borough Council
Belfast City Hospital
General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches
Osborne
Properties
EDUCATION & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Our Lady's Hospice, Dublin.
S&D Training
Southern Health & Social Services Board
£6.00 / €10.00
