HR/manager definitely have no way of knowing for sure, but it would be super easy to make some reasonable predictions, which would then allow them to plan ahead for likely possibilities.
Friday lunchtime + fasting makes the very likely Muslim--and even if they don't want to talk to the employee, they can just compare fasting/other patterns to various religions and figure this out. Lots of data to work from! But let's assume Muslim. If they're going to Friday prayer, then they're likely on the more observant end of the spectrum, but again, you don't really need to know that to plan ahead.
Possible things that employee will want accommodation for:
- Friday prayer - private space to pray throughout the day - modified workload during Ramadan? Or something else - time off for major holidays, which, unlike for Christians, are unlikely to fall on stat holidays - halal meals when applicable - may refrain from shaking hands
Like, even if they've never met a Muslim person in their whole entire life, this is a 30-second google. And if they don't want to actually have to do any reading themselves, they can call their local (or state, or national, whatever) Muslim Association. They're in management and HR! This is literally their job! There is NO reason for this to be "a very stressful situation where little bombs are occasionally going off" unless they make it one.
no subject
Friday lunchtime + fasting makes the very likely Muslim--and even if they don't want to talk to the employee, they can just compare fasting/other patterns to various religions and figure this out. Lots of data to work from! But let's assume Muslim. If they're going to Friday prayer, then they're likely on the more observant end of the spectrum, but again, you don't really need to know that to plan ahead.
Possible things that employee will want accommodation for:
- Friday prayer
- private space to pray throughout the day
- modified workload during Ramadan? Or something else
- time off for major holidays, which, unlike for Christians, are unlikely to fall on stat holidays
- halal meals when applicable
- may refrain from shaking hands
Like, even if they've never met a Muslim person in their whole entire life, this is a 30-second google. And if they don't want to actually have to do any reading themselves, they can call their local (or state, or national, whatever) Muslim Association. They're in management and HR! This is literally their job! There is NO reason for this to be "a very stressful situation where little bombs are occasionally going off" unless they make it one.