Religious tensions in French workplaces have reached their highest level since records began in 2013, with Islam increasingly at the centre of incidents, according to a new study.

A report titled 2024 Baromètre du Fait Religieux en Entreprise, compiled by the Institut Montaigne, reveals that over 70 percent of French companies have experienced incidents rooted in religious beliefs, marking a sharp rise compared to previous years, as reported by the Remix news portal. The study identifies attempts by Muslims to enforce the adoption of Islamic practices as a key driver of workplace challenges.

Tensions surrounding religious symbols, prayer practices, and employees’ views on women are taking a palpable toll on organisational harmony.

🤲 La place de la religion en entreprise : un phénomène qui augmente et un management qui cherche toujours á s’adapter ?
Voici la 10e édition du baromètre du fait religieux en entreprise porté par @Lionelhonore.

Que retenir de l’édition de cette année ? #THREAD 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/n5JDSoC9XS

— Institut Montaigne (@i_montaigne) November 21, 2024

Islam is cited as the cause of 81 percent of religious incidents in the workplace, a notable increase from 73 percent in 2022. This includes a significant rise in visible manifestations, such as the wearing of hijabs and other religious symbols, which are now referenced in 36 percent of reported cases, up from 19 percent two years ago.

Muslim employees are also frequently requesting schedule adjustments to accommodate religious rituals and prayer breaks, creating additional difficulties for workplace management.

The report also highlights that young Muslim men in lower-skilled positions are often at the heart of workplace conflicts.

However, religious tensions are not confined to Islam. Jewish employees face increasing stigmatisation, with reports of professional exclusion doubling since the last survey. Nevertheless, Islamic practices and the perceived challenges associated with them dominate workplace disputes, prompting companies to demand clearer guidelines for handling such issues effectively.

The study underscores the urgent need for action and urges businesses to adopt comprehensive policies that balance freedom of religion with workplace neutrality.

Its authors emphasise that reducing tensions requires enhanced leadership training and clearer directives for managing religious diversity in professional settings.