Recently, I helped organize a career panel for our religious-affiliated affinity group on campus. The idea was to connect students with employers who not only value diversity, but also actively support religious inclusion in the workplace. We were especially hoping to feature companies with interfaith employee groups, places where people of different faiths could come together, share experiences, and feel a sense of belonging. But as we started reaching out to organizations, we hit an unexpected wall: it was surprisingly difficult to find companies that had any kind of interfaith ERG, or Employee Resource Group.
That experience stuck with me. It made me realize how little space religion tends to get in conversations about diversity, even among companies that seem to be doing all the right things in other areas. It made me start thinking more deeply about what it means to ‘bring your whole self’ to school and, eventually, to work, when a big part of your identity might still be considered “too personal” or even inappropriate in professional settings.
Religious ERGs are employee-led groups that support people of shared beliefs or spiritual backgrounds. Some are specific to a faith tradition, like Christian, Muslim, or Jewish ERGs, while others are interfaith and open to people of all religions and worldviews. These groups exist to build community, provide support, and help foster understanding and inclusion across belief systems. They also play a practical role in advocating for things like prayer spaces, flexibility around holidays, and awareness of faith-based needs in the workplace.
But what’s interesting is how relevant all of this is not just in corporate offices but right here on campus. So many of us navigate school life quietly, carrying our faith traditions, unsure when or where it’s okay to share that part of ourselves. And while we have cultural Centers and identity-based clubs all over campus, which are incredibly important, it’s still pretty rare to see religious identity given that same level of recognition or space. That silence can feel isolating. It can make you feel like faith has no place in academic or professional life, even though it’s a deeply meaningful part of who you are.
Here are some companies that have some forms of Religious ERGs. Salesforce, for example, has an interfaith ERG called Faithforce that creates space for employees of all beliefs to connect with and support each other. American Express has separate groups for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim employees. Intuit supports a wide range of employee-led groups, including several focused on faith. Bosch has an interfaith ERG called Interfaith@Bosch that provides a supportive community for its members. Rockwell Automation has an Interfaith ERG called Faith Friendly and Allies that embraces all religious groups, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Mormonism. These organizations are proving that it’s not only possible to make room for religion at work, but it also makes the workplace better.
As students, we don’t have to wait until we’re in full-time jobs to start pushing for this kind of inclusion. We can start now by building our own spaces for faith-based and interfaith dialogue. We can normalize asking employers about their support for religious inclusion when we’re at career fairs or interviews. We can speak up when we need accommodations for prayer, fasting, or religious observances, and we can support one another in doing the same.
Most importantly, we can remind ourselves and each other that our faith is not something to hide. It’s something that deserves respect, space, and even celebration, just like every other part of our identity. If we want a future where people are truly free to bring their whole selves to work, that future starts with the conversations we have and the communities we build right now.
At the Center for Career and Readiness and Life Skills, we take pride in our Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity program, which includes 14 Affinity Communities. We collaborate with students, staff, and faculty to design and implement a variety of career-focused presentations, events, programs, and workshops aimed at equipping them with the essential knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to be career-ready. One of our valued Affinity Communities is the Religious-Affiliated Affinity Community. We invite you to join us and reach out if you’re interested in partnering!
